Highlights of Kagoshima, Sakurajima and Sengan-en Garden
Joined 2023
Fell the wonder of nature by experiencing the real active volcano Sakurajima, an oblong massive trapezoid volcano rises above Kagoshima Bay, erupts on average 200 times a year, enjoy Japan's longest 100 meter footbath.
Sengan-en, 12 acres of calming traditional gardens built in 1658. Discover peaceful ponds, mysterious shrines, a bamboo grove, the lord's house lived in and loved by generations. World Heritage site of the modernisation project and sophisticated crystal cut glass craftsmanship.
Itinerary
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
Sakurajima Ferry
Take a 15 minutes ferry ride to the active volcano Mt. Sakurajima
Mt. Sakurajima Visitor center
Watch 13 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.
Showa Lava Zone Observation Deck (Kurokami View Spot)
It's been about 70 years since the lava flowed. A desolate landscape unfolds.
An observation deck overlooking the "Showa Crater", which has been actively erupting since 2006. It is also called the Kurokami View Spot. You can occasionally see smoke and steam rising from here, and it's a place where you can really feel that the earth is alive. You may also hear explosions and rumblings that accompany eruptions, so take your time to look around. The surrounding area is also where lava flowed during the Showa eruption (1946), and a desolate landscape unfolds. This whole area is called "Hell River Plain" because steam rose from the ground immediately after the lava flowed. Nearby are the Bunmei Lava (1471) and Taisho Lava (1914) zones,
so it's recommended to see the real thing and compare the differences in vegetation (vegetation transition).
Buried Shrine Gate, Kurokami
The roughly 3-meter (10-foot) torii gate of Kurokami Shrine was buried, with only its top beam still visible. Rather than excavate the gate, the village elder chose to leave it buried as a testament to the eruption's menace for future generations. Standing quietly next to the gate, as if nestling against it, is an old Japanese sea fig tree that miraculously survived the eruption.
Arimura observatory near the active peak
This observation point is located on a small hill in the lava field that flowed out in the great explosion of 1946. It is located in the middle of the 1km-long lava promenade, and offers a view of the imposing, world-famous active volcano, Sakurajima, and Kinko Bay as if they were right in front of you. Sakurajima viewed from here has a different appearance than other points. With its steep triangular shape and the nearby crater of Minami-dake, which is currently active, on some days you can hear the rumbling sounds and explosions associated with eruptions, allowing you to experience a different side of Sakurajima.
Yunohira observatory at 373 meters
Drive up to the highest point people are permitted to go, 373 meters above sea level, and enjoy views of the dynamic volcanic rock face and the peninsula on the other side across Kagoshima Bay.
Take a 15 minutes ferry ride back to Kagoshima city side
lunch at a local restaurant
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. Discover peaceful ponds, bubbling streams, mysterious shrines, a bamboo grove, and a mountain hiking trail with a panoramic view of Kagoshima Bay and the volcano beyond. Visit the house lived in and loved by generations of the Shimadzu family, using flawless Yakushima cedar cut from trees over 1,000 years old, and features a fascinating mix of Japanese, Chinese, and Western influences. Also be amazed by the history of Japan's first feudal domain that strived for modernization and take a look at Kagoshima's sophisticated crystal cut glass craftsmanship.
Leave for your hotel or cruise ship port
End of the tour
Ending Point
At your hotel or a cruise ship port
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee
Transportation: I recommend chartering a taxi. The average cost of chartering a taxi is 34,000 yen for up to 3 people and 46,000 yen for up to 8 people.
Sengan-en entrance fees are 1,600 yen per person, taxi parking 500 yen.
The Sakurajima ferry round trip is 500 yen per person, and cars range from 4,700 to 5,260 yen depending on size.
Lunch (guest and guide)
Credit cards are accepted for all fees except for Sengan-en parking.
Tour Important Information
We walk at a slow pace for about 1 hour or more, so comfortable shoes are preferable.
Important message from the supplier
Tours are all open to any kind of arrangement. please feel free to let me know your preferences.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2023
About Tour Guide Hitomi A.
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.
Reviews
Cynthia C.
“Wonderful day in Beppu with Hitomi”
We booked a whisky tasting itinerary with Hitomi during our brief cruise stop over in Beppu. She arrived early and greeted us at the terminal with the taxi driver. We had a blast touring the distilleries and learning about the history of the whisky in Japan. We also enjoyed Japanese BBQ for lunch which was just delicious. Hitomi has a great personality, she speaks English well and understands our need. She really took care of our group. We had never thought we would enjoy this small town so much. It is now one of our fondest memories in Japan :)
David Z.
“Great day with Hitomi in Kagoshima”
We had a group of 5 adults stopping in Kagoshima via cruise ship for the day, and booked Hitomi to tour us around. She did a great job. Very friendly and personable. Kept us on track and ahead of the crowds. We had also booked a van for the day. Went to Sengan-en House which had a really nice house structure and beautiful gardens right on the bay. Much history here. Then she took us to a Wagyu beef restaurant for lunch, then we took the ferry to Sakurajima island to look at the volcano at a couple of viewing spots. Stopped first to soak our feet in the geothermal bath…pretty hot water !! The volcano just happened to spew out ash about 500’ high twice while we were on the island…something that doesn’t happen very often. A really nice day and Hitomi made it fun and special.
Hitomi A.
Thank you for your wonderful review and for visiting Japan and Kagoshima. It was a great pleasure to show you and your family around many tourist attractions in Kagoshima city during the 7 hours. Yes, it was especially amazing to see Sakurajima erupt so explosively twice. It was my first time to see it up close and a moving experience to witness the power of nature with you all so closely. I Look forward to your next visit and wish you and your family all the best!
Hansel Y.
“Well organized tour and a great guide”
Hitomi was a great guide. From a year out in planning, she communicated well, so there were no surprises. Pricing is clearly setup. The tour goes to many places a tour bus can't go to, and she was able to adjust the start time of the tour. Being a private tour there is so much flexibility and no waiting for other people. She booked our lunch for us and the pricing was a great value. Food was really yummy. We learned so much about the sites and Japanese life, history and traditions. I'd recommend booking this tour, as there are a limited number of quality guides.
Hitomi A.
Thank you for your lovely review. You've come during a fantastic week in Japan with the cherry blossoms starting to bloom. It was a wonderful day introducing Kagoshima and sharing so much with you both. I wish you and your family all the best.
$538/ per group
More tours by Hitomi A.
Real Natural Hot Sandbath in Ibusuki and Chiran Peace Museum
Natural steam sandbaths are something you would want to try at least once in your life. Your body is covered with sand heated by hot springs that naturally well up from the earth. Tosenkyo rotating flowing noodles which swirl around in front of your eyes is a unique dining experience. Visit Japan’s largest floral park. Chiran Peace Museum preserves and displays materials left by the deceased Army pilots of the unprecedented ramming attack known as Kamikaze during the final moments of WWⅡ.
A Deep Full Day of Active Volcano Sakurajima
Feel the wonder of nature by experiencing the real active volcano Sakurajima! An oblong massive trapezoid volcano rises above Kagoshima Bay. It erupts on average 200 times a year. You will be able to experience nature that you have never experienced before. There is Japan's longest 100 meter footbath that will warm your mind and body. Then visit 3 main observatories to experience the real volcano.
Whisky Distilleries, Kanosuke, Mars Tsunuki and Satsuma Ware Pottary Kiln, Chin Ju Kan
Kanosuke Distillery is a fouth generation shouchu distillery that built Kanosuke in order to further explore the potential of distilled spirits. As a long time distiller of shochu and a pionner in the field of aged shochu, it has developed a deep understanding of the delicate craft of distilling and is now trying its hand at single malt whisky. It aims to make mellow yet flavorful whisky from its distillery located along a 50 kilometer long white sand beach.
Oshima Silk Wearing Experience, Chiran Samurai Village and Peace Museum
Enjoy a stroll through the subtropical garden wearing Oshima Silk, one of the three great textiles in the world along with Gobelins and Persian carpets. Chiran is home to more than 500 samurai residences during the late Edo period. The breath of history is still felt after more than 270 years. Chiran Peace Museum preserves and displays materials left by the deceased Army pilots of the unprecedented Tokko operation in Okinawa during the final moments of WWⅡ, known as Kamikaze internationally.
Other Popular Nature & Outdoor Tours in Kagoshima
Kagoshima Mt.Sakurajima Experience tour
You can enjoy the active volcano, Mt.Sakurajima thoroughly in this tour. You go to Mt.Sakurajima by a ferry. First, you go to Visitor center to learn about the volcano, if you want you can enjoy hot spring foot bath there, too. Then using a sightseeing bus, you go to a pottery shop to make ash art using colored volcanic ash. After that, you go to an observatory to enjoy the view of the volcano very closely.
A Deep Full Day of Active Volcano Sakurajima
Feel the wonder of nature by experiencing the real active volcano Sakurajima! An oblong massive trapezoid volcano rises above Kagoshima Bay. It erupts on average 200 times a year. You will be able to experience nature that you have never experienced before. There is Japan's longest 100 meter footbath that will warm your mind and body. Then visit 3 main observatories to experience the real volcano.
Artisan amber rice vinegar brewery, an Active Volcano Sakurajima,and feudal lord villa Sengan-en
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.