Kagoshima

Kagoshima City is the capital of Kagoshima Prefecture, located on the southwestern of Kyushu Island. Kagoshima was once the home of the Satsuma Domain (薩摩藩) of Japan, their members such as Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi greatly contributed to the development of modern Japanese history. Kagoshima City also remains many historical sites associated with them.

The Satsuma Domain and the Meiji Restoration

In 1851, Shimazu Nariakira became lord of the Satsuma Domain. He actively imported advanced Western technologies and vigorously developed the Shuseikan businesses (集成館事業), such as ironmaking, textile, shipbuilding, military engineering, and glassmaking, laying a solid foundation for the coming Meiji Restoration. At the same time, his effort on education had nurtured talents such as Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who made outstanding contributions to Japan’s modern history.

In the 1850s, after lockdown for over 200 years, Japan’s doors were pried open. In the next two decades, a large number of Satsuma Domain members such as Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, Atsuhime (篤姫), and Komatsu Kiyokado were active at the forefront of Japanese politics. Members of Satsuma also paid great effort to Taisei Hokan (transfer of power back to the Emperor 大政奉還), the fall of the Shogunate, the Meiji Restoration, and other important stages of history.

Sakurajima, an Active Volcano

Sakurajima (桜島), which is located in Kagoshima Bay, is an active volcano that was formed 26,000 years ago and has 17 large-scale eruptions in history. The Shiroyama Observatory and Kagoshima Waterfront Park are the best places to overlook the Sakurajima volcano. Visitors can take the Sakurajima Ferry near the Waterfront Park to get on the island, and take a closer look from the Yunohira Observatory (湯之平展望所).

Mount Sakurajima

Hundreds of Eruptions a Year

Mount Sakurajima is an active volcano in the city of Kagoshima that was formed more than 20,000 years ago. Sakurajima volcano has two craters and has erupted on a large scale more than ten times. You can discover the charm of the volcanic island along the lava shore walkway, and visit the Yunohira Observatory to get a close look at the stunning nature.