Kagoshima

Kagoshima (鹿児島) is the capital of Kagoshima prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

Understand

Kagoshima is a historical city watched over by the looming bulk of Sakurajima (桜島), an active volcano that regularly dumps ash over the city and erupts a bit every now and then to remind people it's still there. The home of near-mythical samurai hero Saigo Takamori (see History), it's full of sites related to the Satsuma Rebellion.

Get in

By plane

Kagoshima's Airport (IATA: KOJ) is one hour away from Kagoshima's main train station by Bus (¥1200). There are buses from the companies Iwasaki and Nangoku-Kotsu every 10 minutes going from and to the city center, most or all of them stopping at the main train station and the Tenmonkan shopping street. If a few of them stop at the port, it is 15 minutes away by foot from the stops of Tenmonkan, Kinseichō and the city hall.

By train

Kagoshima is the southernmost city on Japan's extensive bullet train network. Services terminate at Kagoshima's main rail station, Kagoshima-Chuō (鹿児島中央).

Kyushu Shinkansen trains run several times per hour from Hakata Station in Fukuoka, taking as little as 80 minutes at a cost of ¥10,170. If you have a Japan Rail Pass you can use Kyushu Shinkansen services at no charge, except Mizuho trains.

Sakura and Mizuho trains connect Kagoshima with stations north and east on the San'yo Shinkansen network. Using the Sakura, Hiroshima is 2 hr 40 min away (¥17,200), Okayama 3 hr 20 min (¥19,830) and Osaka 4 hr 10 min (¥21,300).

From Tokyo, it is possible to travel the full distance of the Tokaido, San'yo and Kyushu shinkansen lines in 7 hours using a combination of Nozomi and Kyushu Shinkansen trains. As Nozomi and Mizuho trains cannot be used with the Japan Rail Pass, Japan Rail Pass holders can make a day trip in 8 hours using a combination of Hikari and Sakura/Tsubame services.

Note that Kagoshima has two central stations, Kagoshima (鹿児島駅) and Kagoshima-Chuō (鹿児島中央駅). The former is the older station slightly to the north of the city centre, and you're unlikely to use it. The much larger Kagoshima-Chuō station is likely where you'll be travelling to and from. Don't confuse them!

Kagoshima-Chūō Station, 31.583667°, 130.541722°. The last stop on the Kyushu Shinkansen. 2019-10-23

Sleeper trains

Because all sleeper trains from Tokyo and Kansai to Kyushu have been discontinued, traveling overnight to Kagoshima strictly by train could be a little difficult. Thankfully, trips are easier to make now that the Kyushu Shinkansen is fully operational.

From Tokyo, it is still possible to take an overnight train, the 22:00 Sunrise Seto/Sunrise Izumo, to Okayama where you can connect to a bullet train the next morning to continue the journey. With a Japan Rail Pass, a connection to a Sakura at Okayama will get you to Kagoshima at around 10:45. Without a Rail Pass you can connect in Okayama to a Mizuho that gets to Kagoshima by 09:50.

Rail Pass holders can opt for carpeted spaces on the overnight train where you sleep on the floor - as these are classified as "reserved seats", they are free to reserve with the pass. Otherwise, accommodation charges of approximately ¥10,000-17,000 must be paid. Bullet trains west of Okayama are covered by the pass as long as you stick with the Sakura or Hikari services.

Overnight by train with rest stop

If you are unable to secure a space on the overnight train, another option - especially for those using a Japan Rail Pass - is to split up the journey, stopping at an intermediate destination en route in order to sleep somewhere. The cost incurred will only be for the hotel room; the Rail Pass covers your transportation.

This two-part method carries a couple of advantages. You will more than likely find good accommodations very close to a main train station in a smaller city, compared to a big city such as Tokyo, and it will more than likely be cheaper than hotels found in Tokyo. You could use the money you save to forward some of your luggage using a luggage delivery service and take an overnight bag with you, which will make the journey easier.

From Tokyo, you could depart in the late afternoon or early evening on the bullet train and sleep over at a hotel in Himeji or Okayama. In the morning, grab one of the first bullet train departures in the same direction to continue your trip. For example, if you were to overnight in Himeji, you can take a direct Hikari service (3 hr 45 min) and stay in a hotel close to Himeji station for around ¥3,000-5,000 per person. In the morning, the 06:55 Sakura departure will get you to Kagoshima by 10:45.

By bus

Various overnight bus services are available to Kagoshima from Osaka and Kobe (~¥10,000 one way; ~¥21,000 round-trip). Tickets for Osaka and Kyoto can be bought from Willer Express's English site for around ¥7800 each way. Daytime and nighttime buses also run from Fukuoka (¥5400 one way; 4 hours) and Oita. There are day buses from Kumamoto for about ¥3600; 3½ hours.

By ferry

Kagoshima is one of Japan's most busy ferry terminals, with a plethora of ferries connecting mainland Japan to its southern islands. For the Okinawan archipelago there's several routes towards Naha which stops on different islands along the way. Operators include Marix Line and A Line ferry - expect the full journey towards Naha to take around 25 hours, although you can stop halfway through in the Amami Islands.

Towards the world heritage site of Yakushima and the island of Tanegashima near Kyushu you can take either Orita Kisen (4 hr, ¥5000), or the Toppy and Rocket hydrofoils completing the journey in less than 2 hours (¥7700) for Tanegashima and in 2-3 hours for Yakushima (¥9000). Finally for the Tokara Islands, the municipality operates 2 weekly ferries plying the route in around 7 hours (¥6000).

Get around

Streetcars are a convenient way to get around Kagoshima city. Both lines 1 and 2 can be boarded at the Kagoshima station; only line 2 runs by Kagoshima-chuo. Board the tram from the back door, and pay the ¥170 (verified Oct 2018) per ride fee when exiting the front door. If you don't have exact change, the fare machine can make change, but it is polite to get your change during the ride, so as to not hold people up when at your final stop. You can pay with IC-cards but compatibility is quite bad - even JR Kyushu's SUGOCA card cannot be used. Unless you've picked up Kagoshima's local RapiCa card you likely will be forced to pay in cash. Streetcar signage varies by the age of the streetcar; some have electronic signs that indicate the stop, but many do not. Streetcar information and a route map are available from www.synapse.ne.jp.

The ferry between volcanic island of Sakurajima and Kagoshima harbor operates frequently and around the clock. The boat ride will take about fifteen minutes.

Given Kagoshima's relatively small size and straighforward layout, buses (¥150) are less confusing than in larger Japanese cities.

If you plan to make Kagoshima a base for multiple trips, or make Kagoshima a stop on a trip throughout Kyushu, then a 5-day Kyushu rail pass may be the best option. If you are travelling from Tokyo or farther via train, then a 7-day Japan Rail pass is about the same price as a one-way shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Kagoshima. Both of these passes have extensive limitations; be sure to review terms and purchase your pass before entering Japan.

Kagoshima Station, 31.602125°, 130.5642°. Offers a train to Kagoshima-Chūō Station. 2019-10-23
Ryūgamizu Station, 31.647222°, 130.604167°. An unmanned station on the edge of the city. Offers a train to Kagoshima-Chūō Station. 2019-10-23
Sakurajima Ferry. Offers service between Kagoshima Port and Sakurajima Port. 2019-10-23

See

Sakurajima (桜島), 31.580556°, 130.658056°. Kagoshima's temperamental (and active) volcano can be reached by ferry in a matter of minutes. Face your fear and get up close and personal - just don't wear too much white, as the ash will leave you looking slightly grey. Yunohira Lookout is a two-hour hike or 15-minute drive from Sakurajima harbor and gives you a good view both to Kagoshima harbor and Sakurajima volcano. There are also a couple of other lookout points, where you can take a closer look at the volcano. Because Sakurajima is essentially an active volcano, remember that tourists are forbidden to go within 2 km of the crater.
Tsurumaru Castle (鶴丸城, Tsurumaru-jō), 31.598485°, 130.554611°. Once the castle of the Shimazu clan who governed the Satsuma domain till the Meiji Restoration, it was destroyed during the Satsuma Rebellion. The only parts remaining today are the wall and the moat. Reconstruction of the castle's gate was completed in April 2020. The Reimeikan is located inside the gate on the former castle grounds.
Kagoshima Prefectural Museum of Culture (黎明館,Reimeikan), 31.59857°, 130.55470°. Beautiful museum with nice expositions retracing the origin and evolution of the first habitants of the southern Kyushu area till the Meiji restoration. Generic information is available in English but for more details about the differents pieces contained in the exposition, a Japanese reading friend should be brought to fully enjoy all the information available.
Museum of the Meiji Restoration (維新ふるさと館, Ishin-furusato-kan), 31.584639°, 130.54775°. 09:00-17:00. A museum about the Meiji restoration and its relationship with the local history. An excellent audio-guide in English is available for free. In the basement, projections (25 min) and robot animations (20 min) relating this period are presented hourly, with English translation though the audio-guide. Allow between 1.5 and 2 hours. adults ¥300, children ¥150
Sengan-en Garden (仙巌園), 31.617222°, 130.576944°.
Kagoshima City Aquarium (Io World), 31.595892°, 130.56435°.
The Nanshu Cemetery.
Kagoshima City Museum of Art, 31.595806°, 130.553361°. 2019-10-23
Nagashima Museum, 31.581771°, 130.532387°. Art museum that contains works of Marc Chagall, Auguste Rodin, and Kuroda Seiki. 2019-10-23

Do

Sunamushi or sunaburo is a hot spring and sand bath combined. "Bathers" are covered in hot sand. It can be found at Ibusuki Onsen, about an hour south of Kagoshima.

Amuran, 31.584722°, 130.5425°. A large Ferris wheel. 2019-10-23

Buy

Tenmonkan shopping arcade (天文館通り, Tenmonkan-dōri) has a plethora of shops, where you can satisfy your consuming needs.

Satsumaimo-no-Yakata, +81 99-239-4865. Several hundred types of sweet potato products.
Jelly Beans, +81 99-216-8800. The shop is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, but if you call in advance and let them know you are coming they will try their best to open it up especially for you on Sundays and Mondays! The store is open 10:00-19:00.. The only specialist English bookstore in the prefecture, with a nice second hand section as well.
Amu Plaza Kagoshima. 2019-10-23

Eat

See Kagoshima prefecture for listings of regional dishes.

Drink

Kagoshima is known throughout Japan for its sweet potato shochu, or imo-jochu (芋焼酎). While shochu is often compared to vodka, it first goes through a fermentation process. In Kagoshima, almost all restaurants have imo-jochu, and some have hundreds of different brands. Even the Shinkansen platforms at Kagoshima-chuo station have a bar/shop with more than 100 varieties of shochu.

In Kagoshima, the most common way to drink shochu is mixed with hot water, or oyu-wari. This releases the fragrance of the shochu, and also reduces the alcohol content to be on-par with wine. Because Kagoshima is the center of manufacture, many factories offer tours and have small shops for tasting and purchasing the locally made shochu.

Sleep

Budget

If you're looking for inexpensive accommodation, the tourist information in the Kagoshima station can hand you a leaflet, where they have listed all the inexpensive options in Kagoshima. They can also check availability and book the accommodation for you.

Nakazono Ryokan, 1-8 Yasuicho, +81 99-226-5125. Near the City Hall and close to the ferry terminals. A pleasant place to stay and has a helpful manager. ¥4200
Sakurajima Youth Hostel, 189 Yokoyama, Sakurajima-cho, +81 99 2932150. If you want to stay overnight on the Sakurajima island, the youth hostel is practically your only budget option. A bed in the dorm will cost you ¥2650 and includes the usage of the hot bath they have downstairs.
Moon GaramMasala Guest House, +81 9099523515. Also on Sakurajima, 5 minutes walk from the ferry terminal is this tiny guesthouse. It is a little hard to find, but the information counter at the ferry terminal can give you directions. Sleep is only ¥1300 a night (there are two beds available, extra futons upon request), and you get what you'd expect for that price. The toilet is outside in the parking lot, and the shower/bath is to be taken at the nearby onsen. Despite all of this, the guesthouse has a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere. Bicycle rental is available for free, and if you're lucky the hosts might even offer to give you a tour around the island in their pick-up truck. If the host asks you if you'd like to come along to watch the sunset as he plays his electric Koto, be sure to go along for an experience not to be missed.
Asahi Business Hotel, 中央町20－12, Chuō-machi 20-12 (2 minutes walk from Kagoshima-Chuō station). Small and old-fashioned rooms but include TV and shower. Singles ¥3800, twins ¥7000
Kagoshima Little Asia Guest House. A 1-minute walk from Kagoshima-Chuo station (take the west exit (西口) towards the buses, and walk straight). Free internet, laundry (with detergent), guest kitchen, air-conditioning, and TV, ¥280 dinner, weekly and monthly rental available at discount. Both owners speak very good English. Male/Female Dorm ¥1500, singles ¥2500, twins ¥2000 per person.
Green Guest House. Free internet, laundry (with detergent), guest kitchen, air-conditioning, and TV, ¥500 dinner with extra refill if needed. Free bike hire for 1 hour and ¥500 per 24 hr. Staff speak very good English. Separate male/female dorm ¥1500, mixed dorm capsule or Japanese style ¥2000, Single room King size bed ¥2,500 per person or ¥2,000 for each person (couple or family) or single room bunk bed ¥2,000 for each person and private twin room Japanese style ¥2,000 for each person.

Kagoshima - capital city of Kagoshima prefecture