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 for an airline company, I could travel to many foreign countries with lots of joy experiencing their unique cultures. Now, I want to help visitors from abroad enjoy Japanese unique culture, history, nature.
Julie O.
“Fabulous day in Kagoshima”
Correspondence with Hitomi prior to our tour ensured it went off seamlessly. Kagoshima was our first port in Japan so we didn't expect to clear customs so quickly. The day had a great mix of nature, excellent food and culture. Hitomi speaks excellent English and was always clear in her explanations. Hitomi ensured we remained on time during our tour. Although the original restaurant wasn't available for lunch the replacement was excellent. I would highly recommend Hitomi as a guide.
Hitomi A.
Thank you for visiting Japan and Kagoshima. I'm so glad you all enjoyed the top three attractions in Kagoshima. Even after the tour is over, I still enjoy reading your detailed travel articles posted on Facebook. Your language is beautiful and literary. I look forward to your new posts in the future. I wish you and your family all the best!
William G.
“Highlights of Kagoshima, Sakurajima and Sengan-en Garden”
Hitomi was wonderful. She was so easy to work with and made everything easy for our small group of cruisers. She is very knowledgeable and passionate about guiding through her city. I highly recommend her.
Hitomi A.
I really enjoyed showing you and your group around Kagoshima. Your sense of humor and sociable personality made our tour that much more enjoyable, even when the weather turned to rain and wind in the afternoon. I wish you all the best.
Thomas M.
“A nice day exploring Sakurajima, Sengan-en, and more”
Hitomi was fun and easy to talk to, and very knowledgable! I learned a lot about Kagoshima's history and about the places we visited. It was nice to be able to explore Sakurajima without the hassle of renting a car and driving (and note that the tourist bus doesn't make the complete loop around). We also had a nice lunch and explored Sengan-en and surrounding sites (plus a fun side adventure). Great!
Hitomi A.
Thank you for traveling around Japan while staying in Japan for months on a digital nomad visa. I was amazed at your wealth of knowledge of Japanese history. And it was a great pleasure to talk to each other about it. The spiritual and spirited places we first visited on the recommendation of your guide in Yakushima will likely be my first and last visit, as you told me, unless a visitor like you visits Kagoshima City again. The places you have visited and will visit in Japan are places we Japanese would love to visit too. Your taste in choosing the places to visit is amazing. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Japan and make a lot of money while you are here.
$514/ per group