Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan ~ The majestic Sakurajima Volcano and the beautiful scenery of Satsuma!

Taking the Kyushu Shinkansen, I arrived in Kagoshima City in the southern part of Kyushu. This city is built around the Sakurajima Volcano, which erupts many times throughout the year. When I arrived, the volcano's crater was still emitting thick smoke. Every household in Kagoshima City has bags in front of their doors to collect volcanic ash. From the observatory in Shiroyama Park, you can see the entire city and the Sakurajima Volcano. Shiroyama Park is the site of the last civil war in Japan, the Satsuma Rebellion. After being defeated in the Satsuma Rebellion, Saigo Takamori committed suicide here. It is said that if you haven't seen the Sakurajima Volcano, you haven't truly been to Kagoshima. However, sometimes due to bad weather, fog may obscure the view of Sakurajima, so it's best to visit on a clear day. Walking to Kagoshima Port allows you to appreciate the Sakurajima Volcano up close. There are ferries that can take you to Sakurajima, but they may stop operating during volcanic eruptions. Kagoshima City also has many statues of famous people. Starting from Kagoshima Chuo Station, you can see statues of Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, the statue of the 11th lord of the Satsuma Domain, Shimazu Nariakira, in Terukuni Shrine, the statue of Atsuhime in the Reimeikan, and the statues of Sakamoto Ryoma and his wife in the Tenmonkan shopping street. In the Tenmonkan shopping street, I tasted Kyushu's tonkotsu ramen and Shirokuma ice cream. The Ishin Furusato Museum near Kagoshima Chuo Station is a place to learn about the history of the Satsuma Domain. Kagoshima is also one of the birthplaces of the Meiji Restoration. The museum records historical materials related to Saigo Takamori, the arrival of the Black Ships, the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance, and the Satsuma Rebellion. There are many items related to the NHK Taiga drama "Segodon." The entrance fee is 300 yen, and the museum is usually open year-round. Kagoshima · Kagoshima Prefecture Sakurajima