Feel the wonder of nature by experiencing an oblong massive trapezoid volcano rises above Kagoshima Bay. It erupts on average 200 times a year. There is Japan's longest 100 meter footbath that will warm your mind and body. Then visit Sakamoto artisan amber rice vinegar brewery to see how traditional rice vinegar is made. After knowing its wonder, enjoy a lunch that goes well with amber vinegar. Afterwards, head to Senganen, a daimyo villa and garden, which is a world cultural heritage site.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
at your hotel or a cruise ship port
take a ferry to Sakurajima
take a ferry to the other side of peninsura
Sakurajima Visitor center
Watch 15 minutes Movie about the real volcanic acitivies on English subtitle, some pannels to explain the past explosive eruptions, vegetations after eruptions and the real life with the active volcano.
Footbath at Sakurajima Lava Nagisa Park
One of the largest footbaths in Japan with a length of 100 meters. It uses natural hot springs with a source temperature of 42 degrees that gush out from 1,000 meters underground. When you soak in the reddish-brown footbath, your body will be warmed up and relaxed. Take a break while looking out at Kagoshima Bay spreading out in front of you or Sakurajima towering behind you.
Depart for Sakamoto amber rice vinegar brewery
Saccharification, lactic acid fermentation, alcohol fermentation, and acetic acid fermentation are performed continuously in one pot, is unique in the world and can only be made here. Even now in the 21st century, the traditional manufacturing method unhanged for 200 years, using only steamed rice, rice malt, and groundwater as raw materials, with the help of solar energy and microorganisms, and over a long period of one to five years. After slowly fermenting and maturing, it is time to harvest.
Lunch at Sakamoto rice venigar restaurant
"Tsubohata" lunch
Price: 1,650 yen (tax included)
aperitif vinegar
Assortment of 3 appetizers
Main・Salad・White rice・Today's soup
(Choose from Kurozu sweet and sour pork, shrimp with chili sauce, or spicy stir-fried chicken for main)
“Tsubohata” Premium Lunch
Price: 1,980 yen (tax included)
aperitif vinegar
Assortment of 3 appetizers
2 types of dim sum
Main・Salad・White rice・Today's soup
(Choose from Kurozu sweet and sour pork, shrimp with chili sauce, or spicy stir-fried chicken for main)
Depart for Sengan-en garden
60 minutes by expressway
Sengan-en, a feudal lord villa and spacious garden, , the world cultural heritage site
12 acres of calming traditional gardens built in 1658, 350 years ago. Enjoy a panoramic view of Kagoshima Bay and the volcano beyond. Features a fascinating mix of Japanese, Chinese. Also be amazed by the history of Japan's first feudal domain that strived for industrialization.
Depart for your cruise ship port
End of the tour
at your hotel or cruise ship port
Ending Point
at your hotel or cruise ship port
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee
Transportation : Average chartered taxi fare; up to 3 for 39,000 JPY, up to 8 for 50,000 JPY.
The one-way ferry fare : per person is 250JPY, a jumbo taxi is 2,630JPY.
The express toll is 800 JPY.
The entrance fee to Sengan-en Garden is 1,600 JPY per person.
Lunch will cost around 2000 JPY.
At Sengan-en Garden, you will walk about 1 hour, so please wear comfortable shoes.
Tours are all open to any kind of arrangement. please feel free to let me know your preferences.
Hello! I’m Hitomi. I was born and raised in Kagoshima. After graduating from the college, I mostly lived in Tokyo and came back to my hometown 10 years ago. I love communicating with people and sharing each other’s culture and history. As I used to work at an airline company, I could travel many foreign countries with lots of joy experiencing their unique cultures. Now, I want to help visitors from abroad to enjoy Japanese unique culture and history.
Katherine W.
Highlights of Kagoshima, Sakurajima and Sengan-en Garden
“Amazing day in Kagoshima with Hitomi”
As a group of six on a cruise stop in Kagoshima, we booked a day tour with Hitomi to easily see all of the sights. Hitomi met us early at the cruise terminal and took us in a taxi on the car ferry over to Sakurajima volcano, where we were able to explore the whole volcano and have a very relaxing foot bath! We then had a delicious wagyu yakinuki lunch which we all loved, and finished the day with an exploration of Sengan-en garden. Thank you Hitomi for a fantastic day, there is no way we would have been able to see as much as we did on our own.
Hitomi A.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I am so grateful to know that you were able to enjoy three attractions of Kagoshima! It was a pleasure for me to take you into the deep side of Sakurajima, Japan’s best Wagyu beef restaurant and the World Cultural Heritage Site Senganen! Thank you for your patience to listen to my stories from the start to the end.
Simon F.
Highlights of Kagoshima, Sakurajima and Sengan-en Garden
“Simply Brilliant!”
Right from the outset Hitomi was a joy to deal with. She was responsive to our communications and interested in our needs on the day. Hitomi put together a perfect itinerary for us and was really fun to be with all day, providing a fascinating local perspective. We loved the ferry ride to Mount Sakurajima, its footbaths and observatory as well as the Sengam-en Feudal Lord villa. However the real highlight was lunch in an amazing restaurant cooking our wagyu beef on the integrated table barbecue. What an experience! We’d highly recommend Hitomi to anyone. You won’t be disappointed!!
Hitomi A.
Thank you very much for your wonderful review. I was the one who had the most fun during the tour. You people were so kind and sweet and so fun to be around and talk to. As expected, the best attraction was Bakuro's Wagyu Beef Yakiniku! Please come back to Kagoshima in the near future to find the best antique Satsuma ware. I wish you all the best!
Lindsey M.
Highlights of Kagoshima, Sakurajima and Sengan-en Garden
“Wonderful day in kagoshima”
Hitomi was a wonderful guide! Unfortunately we didn’t have great weather but she certainly made the most of it and was very flexible to our schedule due to weather. She also took us to the best lunch we have had in Japan. Would absolutely recommend!
Hitomi A.
Thank you very much for your wonderful review! I am happy to hear that you enjoyed Kagoshima and Wagyu beef yakiniku. I also enjoyed guiding you around Senganen Cat shrine. By now you are definitely having a great time with your beloved cat and dog. with many thanks.
$500/ per group