“Samurai Streets, Somen Streams & Stunning Views in Kagoshima”

What. A. Day. Kagoshima completely stole our hearts—thanks to our amazing guide Yaron and the absolute MVP of drivers, Momo! We started by stepping back in time at the Chiran Samurai Residences, where peaceful gardens and old-world charm made us feel like we were living in a samurai movie. Then Yaron took us to drink the best macha and ic e cream - yum! And on our way back to the car to meeet Momo, Yaron bought some fish food so our kids could feed the koi fish along the side of the road. Then came the views: Kaimon Volcano rising dramatically over the sea, looking like it was plucked straight from a painting. Pure magic. We visited a sea horse farm where there was the cutest torii gate and shrine. For lunch Yaron took us to the best somen noodles in town! Catching noodles out of water chutes at a flowing somen restaurant was an experience will never forget and the kids loved their first Japanese somen! It was delicious chaos in the best way. We feasted like locals—grilled fish, inari, and dishes we couldn’t pronounce but now dream about daily. And then—plot twist—my husband had a mission: find the original Pokémon game for Game Boy. Instead of laughing us off, Momo made a few calls, found a local vintage game store, confirmed they had it, and detoured us there before heading to the port. Literal hero move. We wrapped the day at Lake Ikeda, home to Japan’s very own Loch Ness Monster, Isshii. No confirmed sightings (yet), but the lake was stunning and full of mystery. Huge love to Yaron and Momo for making this day unforgettable. From samurais to somen to beautiful views, Kagoshima hit every note.

Yaron P.

(10 reviews)

Dear Cristin, It was such a pleasure to spend time with your family — I truly enjoyed every minute! We were also lucky to have such beautiful weather. I wish I could have shown you even more… so I guess that means you’ll just have to come back! (: There’s still so much to see in Kagoshima and on the amazing island of Kyushu. And the kids eating the somen noodles even without the sauce — that was cool! Thank you all :-)

“A Mixed Experience with Local Guide Services”

We booked this tour through Yaron, who outsourced it to Melinda. While we had pre-planned the day's itinerary, extreme typhoon-like weather in Kagoshima forced us to adjust. Melinda was flexible and accommodating to our group’s needs, and fortunately, the weather cleared up enough for us to visit some unique locations. That said, there were some issues that left us disappointed. We had been informed in advance that Melinda would rent a car to drive us around, and that this would incur an additional fee of ¥20,000, payable in person. However, she used her own personal vehicle instead—and still charged us the rental fee. Although tipping isn’t customary in Japan, we offered one as a gesture of appreciation, considering she isn’t Japanese. She politely declined, citing local norms. Her refusal, while understandable, felt inconsistent with charging a rental fee for a vehicle she already owned. Her actions during the tour left a lasting, and not entirely positive impression. She used inappropriate language in front of my son and made comments suggesting she doesn’t particularly enjoy being around children. While she initially came across as friendly, there was an underlying tone of impatience, as if guiding us through Kagoshima was more an obligation than a passion. On the positive side, Melinda introduced us to one of the most incredible temples we’ve ever seen in Japan. Everyone in our group agreed it was a highlight of the entire cruise. Her insights were heartfelt—she’d visited many times, and her daughter was even married there. She also brought us to Tosenkyo Flowering Somen Noodles, a unique and delicious experience where you catch noodles swirling in fresh spring water with chopsticks. It was both fun and memorable. Overall, the tour had its highlights, particularly the temple and somen experience. But the miscommunication about costs and the uncomfortable interactions during the day left us with mixed feelings.

Yaron P.

(10 reviews)

Dear Dina Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. On one hand I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed some parts of the tour—especially the temple and the Tosenkyo noodles. These are special places that Melinda loves to share with our guests. About the transportation I will try to explain: using a private minivan was my request. After checking rental options, I found that renting a car big enough for your family—plus road expenses and insurance —would cost almost twice as much. From my experience the car rental prices in Kagoshima are especially high on cruise ship days, sometimes much more than on regular days. So my goal was simply to help you save money by asking the guide to use her husband's insured private car. Part of the transportation fee was meant to cover fuel, insurance, cleaning, and the effort of making the car available just for your family. I'm really sorry this was misunderstood, and especially that I didn't explain it clearly enough in our messages before the tour. That's my responsibility. Melinda also planned a special route with places that most tourists don't usually visit, so that your family could enjoy something more unique and personal. Because of the rain forecast and the sudden weather changes, she may have felt stressed or low-energy at times, and if that made anyone feel uncomfortable, I truly apologize !!! I will make sure all future guests feel fully welcome and respected. Thank you again for your honest review. We are always learning and doing our best to improve and I hope you will come again to Kagoshima with your family, this place still have a lot of beauty Best regards PTASHNIK YARON

Joanna G.

5 / 5

Jul 16, 2025

Chiran Samurai Residence & Scenic Coast – Cruise-Friendly Day Tour

Jul 16, 2025

Kagoshima

7 hours

“Fabulous day”

Thanks so much to Melinda for a fabulous day exploring Kagoshima - highlight was the sand baths and the flowing noodles! Highly recommended.

Yaron P.

(10 reviews)

Thank you so much, Joanna! So happy to hear you had a great time with Malinda — the sand baths and flowing noodles really are special. Hope to see you again on another adventure in Japan!