@Jackie San
5- BRONZE STATUE OF SAIGO TAKAMORI
Saigo Takamori is a great figure who helped bring about the end of the Edo period, which had lasted for more than 250 years, and establish the Meiji government, the foundation of modern Japan. Saigo led an army during the Satsuma Rebellion, Japan’s last civil war of samurai warriors, and is said to be the model for an important character in the movie, “The Last Samurai.” This magnificent eight-meter high statue stands firm with feet set apart before Shiroyama, the site of Saigo’s last battle. Teru Ando, a sculptor from Kagoshima City, spent eight years creating this statue. Ando also created the statue of the well-known faithful dog Hachiko in Shibuya, Tokyo. You can take photos of the Saigo statue with his dog, from a spot across the street.
6- KIRISHIMA CITY [KIRISHIMA JINGU SHRINE]
Kirishima Jinja Shrine is located about 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from Kagoshima-Chuo Station.
Kirishima is known as the "home of the gods." The shrine was built in the 6th century and enshrines Ninigi-no-mikoto, the protagonist of the legend of the founding of Japan.
The road to the shrine surrounded by dense greenery and the elegant vermilion-lacquered shrine building are very beautiful, attracting many visitors from all over Japan.
@Jackie San
7- IBUSUKI CITY [TOSENKYO SOMEN NAGASHI
About 200,000 people visit Tosenkyo every year. In woods that remains cool even in mid-summer, you can enjoy nagashi somen ("flowing noodles") in cold spring water chosed one of the "100 Exquisite Waters of the Heisei Era", which certified by the Ministry of the Environment. Savor noodles, rice balls, salt-grilled trout, koikoku (carp soup), koi no arai (slices of carp washed in clear spring water), and other specialties.
@Jackie San
8- KAGOSHIMA (TSURUMARU) CASTLE RUINS [GOROMON GATE]
Kagoshima (Tsurumaru) Castle, the seat of the Shimazu Clan, was completed in 1601 by Shimazu Iehisa, who later became the 18th lord of the Shimazu Family and the first lord of the Satsuma Domain. The castle grounds consisted of Shiroyama behind the castle itself and the residences at the foot of the mountain.
Today, visitors can see the ruins, including the moats and stone walls, as well the impressive Goromon Gate, which was meticulously rebuilt in 2020.It is Japan’s largest castle gate.
The original gate was located in front of the castle’s residential complex, which currently houses Reimeikan, Kagoshima Prefectural Center for Historical Material.
Recommended Sakura viewing period: late March–early April. @Jackie San
9- Io WORLD KAGOSHIMA CITY AQUARIUM
Attractive exhibitions with various themes such as the Kuroshio Current and "Sea of Nansei Islands"
The aquarium boasts a great location with Sakurajima directly in front. The main attraction is 10,000 marine creatures of approximately 800 species. The Gigantic Kuroshio Fish Tank, 25-m wide and containing 1,500 tons of water, is overwhelming. It exhibits fish such as whale sharks and tuna that migrate with the Kuroshio Current. There are many other exhibitions under different themes such as “Sea of Nansei Islands,” where you can see colorful tropical fish and live corals, and “Deep Sea of Kagoshima,” the aquarium has Vestimentiferan tube-worms/Lamellibrachia Satsuma (tube-worms), a rare creature found only in Kagoshima. There are other attractions including events to learn about dolphins and the diet of whale sharks, harbor seals and electric eels. @Jackie San
10- KUROKAMI BURIED TORRI [SHRINE GATE]
"IMPORTANT HERITAGE THAT ILLUSTRATES SAKURAJIMA'S MASSIVE ERUPTION" The great eruption of Sakurajima on January 12th in 1914, covered the entire Kurokami area with ash and pumice stone. The 3-m high torii shrine gate was buried, now only the top part is shown above the ground.The village head at the time decided not to dig up the gate as he wanted to keep evidence of the dreadful eruption for years to come and so it remains as it is today. The buried gate was designated as a natural monument by the prefecture in 1958. Beside the gate, an old sea fig tree that miraculously survived the disaster stands inconspicuously. 11- KAGOSHIMA CHUO STATION "FULL OF RESTAURANTS AND STORES, THE STATION IS THE GATEWAY TO KAGOSHIMA"
Amu Plaza Kagoshima and the station building at Kagoshima Chuo Station, the terminus of the Kyushu Shinkansen, are popular places for shopping and dining. Gourmet-Yokocho and Miyage-Yokocho, located near the station ticket gate, are convenient for a quick bite and shopping before getting on a train. With stops for buses, which take a loop line route including tourist attractions, and regular tourist buses and trams, the station is an important center for visitors to Kagoshima. At the highest reach of Amu Plaza’s giant 60-m diameter Ferris wheel, 91 m in the air, you can see Sakurajima beyond the buildings. The Ferris wheel operates until 10:45 pm, so you can also enjoy a night view.
12- KAGOSHIMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART [A WORTH SEEING COLLETION OF MODERN WESTERN PAINTINGS AND TRADITIONAL CRAFTS]
The museum exhibits Western paintings from Impressionism to modern art such as works by Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Cézanne, Rodin, Dali and Warhol.There are also works by Seiki Kuroda, a contributor to the development of Western style painting in Japan, and traditional masterpieces of Satsuma pottery and Satsuma Kiriko cut-glass. The vault with a dome ceiling at the entrance shows patterns of Satsuma Kiriko cut glass. There is a café and a souvenir shop in the museum. Since the museum is in the place where Tsurumaru Castle used to stand, the residence of Satsuma Clan lords, there are stone walls, pine trees and a waterway with carp swimming. This gives the area a traditional Japanese atmosphere. A statue of Saigo Takamori, the last samurai and Kagoshima’s hero is near the museum, It's an ideal place for a stroll.
13- KAGOSHIMA CHUO STATION TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER
[TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER LOCATED AT KAGOSHIMA CHUO STATION]
This tourist information center is on the premises of Kagoshima Chuo Station. Various pamphlets and city sightseeing information are available here.
14- JIGENJI PARK [RELAXING PARK SURROUNDED BY NATURE IN HISTORICAL AREA]
This large park is on the premises of the former Jigenji Temple built around 1400 years ago. The temple was torn down in 1869. The natural environment and a clear stream has been preserved in the area. There is a mystic atmosphere around its trail. A popular activity is picking cold somen noodles from a “somen nagashi” dish, a special device that spins noodles in water. In summer many visitors including families visit here. The best season is from the middle of March to the end of October. Rape-flowers and cosmos grow in the large park that is also known for cherry blossoms in spring.
15- MUSEUM OF THE MEIJI RESTORATION
The Meiji Restoration is a major reform during which the Samurai’s era ended and the modernization of Japan began. The leading figures of the reform were Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, samurai warriors from Kagoshima. At the Museum of the Meiji Restoration you can learn about the life style and mind-set of the people who were the driving force of the Meiji Restoration. At the hall on the first basement, you can watch films and a play performed by life-sized robots. Digital guidance is available in English, Chinese and Korean languages if you download an app on your cell phone or rent a tablet from the museum.
@Jackie San
16- YAMAKATAYA DEPARTMENT STORE [KAGOSHIMA'S LONG-ESTABLISHED DEPARTMENT STORE THAT SELLS VARIOUS LOCAL PRODUTS] Founded in 1751, the department store sells a variety of local specialties including food and crafts.
17- AMAMI-NO SATO [ENJOY THE TROPICAL ATMOSPHERE AND GOURMET FOOD, WHERE OSHIMA PONGEES ARE WOVEN]
Home to the Amami-style Gardens, lush with bougainvillea, Japanese sago palms, and more, visitors can enjoy all the tropical atmosphere that Amami has to offer. A wide variety of facilities are available, including factories and museums dedicated to the clothing called Oshima pongee, hands-on experiences making handkerchiefs using plant-based dyes, braiding workshop, weaving and trying on Oshima pongee, and more. Visitors can purchase Oshima pongee products and specialties from Amami, and enjoy seasonal flowers in the “Path of Islands Garden,” which uses stones to recreate the numerous islands that stretch to the south. At the restaurants, diners can try Amami’s local specialty “chicken rice,” a rice dish topped with a variety of ingredients and smothered in chicken broth, as well as “Akakuma,” a shaved ice dish chock-full of red dragon fruit and available only in the summer. @Jackie San 18- TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER, KAGOSHIMA-CHUO STATION EAST EXIT STATION SQUARE
Staffed at all times and sells public transport guides as well as day passes for the city bus. Offers Wi-Fi service and luggage keep. Do not hesitate to ask us anything about tourism in Kagoshima.
@Jackie San
19- MONUMENT OF ST. XAVIER'S LANDING
This monument commemorates the 1549 landing of Francis Xavier in Japan, marking the establishment of the first Christian mission in Japan. The monument of the site of St. Xavier’s landing is located in a corner of Gionnosu Park, facing Kinko Bay.
20- KOTSUKI RIVER BANK [A RELAXING AND BEAUTIFUL CHERRY BLOSSOM TREE-LINED RIVER IN A HISTORICAL SITE]
A walking trail is located along the Kotsuki River that runs through the center of Kagoshima City. A dynamic view of Sakurajima can be enjoyed on the lower reaches of the river. Approximately 500 cherry trees are planted along the trail. The cherry blossoms are illuminated until 22:00 in spring. Located five minutes from Kagoshima Chuo Station, this is a popular cherry-blossom viewing spot. Well-known Japanese historical figures such as Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi were born and grew up near Takami Bridge. Near the river, there is Museum of the Meiji Restoration, where you can learn about samurai warriors and historical figures who contributed to the modernization of Japan. @Jackie San
21- YOSHINO PARK [A BREATHTAKING VIEW OF SAKURAJIMA AND MOUNTAINS SILHOUETTES]
Located in the northeast part of Kagoshima City, Yoshino Park is a city park featuring a full 30 hectares of lawns and gardens. At 234 meters high, the observatory overlooks Sakurajima across Kinko Bay. On a clear day, one can see as far as the Kirishima mountain range and Mt. Kaimondake. The park was chosen as one of “Japan’s Top 100 Urban Parks” in 1989. The park grounds are a relaxing setting surrounded by around 70,000 trees from 140 different species. In addition to a Japanese-style garden and a Japanese sago palm garden, the approximately 40,000 azaleas envelope the area around the fountain in bright, lush colors. Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms are in full bloom in late February, while normal cherry trees bloom in April. Enjoy the beautiful interplay between Sakurajima and the flowers that bloom through the season.
22- MARUYA GARDENS
[TRENDY SHOPPING MALL IN TENMONKAN, THE CENTRAL SHOPPING DISTRICT]
You can find a souvenir of Kagoshima at this mall in Tenmonkan. There are shops including D&D DEPARTMENT KAGOSHIMA by MARUYA and Brancher.
23- ISHIBASHI MEMORIAL PARK AND ISHIBASHI MEMORIAL HALL
At the end of the Edo period, five stone arch bridges (Tamae Bridge, Shinkan Bridge, Nishida Bridge, Korai Bridge, and Takeno Bridge) were erected over the Kotsuki River, which flows through the center of Kagoshima City. The bridges were built under the guidance of Sangoro Iwanaga, a famous stonemason from Kumamoto. Of these, Nishida Bridge was built as the main entrance to the castle, and thus has an appropriately extravagant construction. It is said that Princess Atsu crossed the bridge on her wedding day. After about 150 years in active use, two of the bridges washed away in the torrential rain and flooding of 1993. The three remaining bridges, including Nishida Bridge, were relocated and restored, and the Ishibashi Memorial Hall was also built to pass on bridge building techniques and contemporary history from that time. Visitors can enjoy safe, old-fashioned river play in the gentle water flow under the bridge. The location is popular as a place for playing in the water, children's studies, sightseeing, and relaxation. The adjacent Gionnosu Park features a statue of Sangoro, as well as Gionnosu, the remains of batteries from the Bombardment of Kagoshima (a war between Britain and Satsuma) and Monument of St. Xavier’s Landing. Both this park and Ishibashi Memorial Park are excellent spots for relaxation.
24- FORMER KAOGSHIMA FOREING ENGINEER'S RESIDENCE [IJINKAN]
An accommodation built in 1867 for foreign engineers who worked at the western style spinning mill, The semi-western style building was designed using traditional Japanese measurement and attached colonial style balconies. Regarded as an important heritage that tells a story of Westernization o architecture in Japan, the building and the property are designated as an important national cultural property and a national historic site, respectively. In July 2015 Ijinkan was registered as one of the world heritage assets of the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal. In the nearby area you'll find Sengan-en, where you can see Sakurajima from its beautiful garden, and the Former Shuseikan Machinery Factory, an historic site.
25- SHOKO SHUSEIKAN MUSEUM
The main building of the Shoko Shuseikan Museum will be closed for renovations from Monday May 9, 2022 untill September 2024. The museum annex will remain open to the public.
Opened in 1923, the Shoko Shuseikan Museum is housed in the oldest Western-style stone factory building in Japan, built in 1865 to process metal for ships. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2015 as a site of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution. The Western-style exterior saw the building given another name, "Stone Home" at the time of construction, but it was built according to Japanese architectural style. Another major characteristic of the building is that instead of bricks, tuff - volcanic stone widely used in the Satsuma region - is used. The museum stores or displays some 10,000 pieces originally used by the Shimazu family pertaining to the history of the family and the modernization project it undertook, the Satsuma cut glass produced since the Edo period, the oldest daguerrotype photographs taken by Japanese people and the machines that used to operate in the factory. In the museum shop, you can find books and goods related to the collection.
26- NAGASHIMA ART MUSEUM
The Nagashima Art Museum is perched on a hilltop and nestled among subtropical trees. The panoramic view encompasses the magnificent Sakurajima, Kinko Bay, and downtown Kagoshima City. Inside the museum, visitors will find a permanent collection of approximately 1,000 items, including paintings and sculptures by Seiki Kuroda, a Kagoshima-born painter who left a major mark on modern Japanese art, Chagall, Renoir, Rodin, and others, as well as prehistoric artifacts excavated from the South American continent, Satsuma earthenware, and more. A wide variety of pieces are on display throughout the year.
27- TERUKUNI SHRINE (A SHRINE DEDICATED TO THE MOST BELOVED LORD IN KAGOSHIMA)
In Japan, shrines are dedicated to gods and actually exshisted people. Terukuni Shrine is an example which dedicates to Shimazu Nariakira, the 28th lord of the Satsuma Clan. This is the largest shrine in Kagoshima visited by many worshipers. The shrine was destroyed in an air raid during World War II and was rebuilt in 1958. When you go through the huge torii gate, you will see a tree trimmed in a beautiful crane shape and the Shimadzu family’s emblem, a cross within a circle, on the buildings. During the Rokugatsudo Lantern Festival (a summer festival) held every July, different colored lanterns are displayed in the precinct and many visitors attend.
28- BRONZE STATUE OF OKUBO TOSHIMICHI (ONE OF THE THREE GREAT NOBLES OF THE MEIJI RESTORATION WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE MODERNIZATION OF JAPAN)
The Three Great Nobles of the Meiji Restoration, Saigo Takamori, Kido Takayoshi and Okubo Toshimichi, contributed to the modernization of Japan. The monument of Okubo Toshimichi was created by Shinya Nakamura to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Okubo’s death (on September 26th, 1979). The 4.3-m main statue stands with engravings of the coachman and horse that were killed together with Okubo.
29- MONUMENT COMMEMORATING ST. XAVIER'S STAY IN KAGOSHIMA
Father Emile Raguet, who created Japan’s first French-Japanese dictionary in the Meiji Period, built the church in honor of Francisco Xavier’s achievements. Most of the church was burned during World War II. A stone wall from the original church still stands in the park together with the bust of Xavier. Based on a donation by the Pope the church was rebuilt in the modern gothic style in 1949 in commemoration of the 400’th anniversary of Xavier’s arrival in Kagoshima. In 1999 three life-sized statues, one of Xavier, one of Bernard the Japanese, and one of Yajiro, the first Japanese Christian from Kagoshima, were erected.
30- STATUE OF TENSHOIN (A WOMAN FROM KAGOSHIMA WHO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE DURING THE TURBULENT PERIOD AT THE END OF THE EDO PERIOD)
This is a statue of Tenshoin (Princess Atsu), who married a shogun in the Edo Period and managed the Women’s quarters of Edo Castle during the turbulent period before the restoration. She is said to have played a major role to in realizing the “bloodless surrender of the castle” and preventing war between the Edo Shogunate and the new Meiji government. The statue depicts a woman who maintained the Kagoshima spirit and trusted her instincts during a period that saw dynamic changes.
31- SAKURA JIMA FERRY WHARF
@Jackie San
32- KAGOSHIMA CITY TRAIN
33- TERUKUNI SHRINE
(THIS SHRINE IS DEDICATED TO NARIAKIRA SHIMAZU, A FAMOUS FEUDAL LORD OF SATSUMA (KAGOSHIMA) AT THE END OF THE EDO PERIOD. HE WAS A BRILLIANT MAN, WHO MADE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE MODERNIZATION OF SATUMA AFTER THE MODEL OF THE OCCIDENT.
34- SAIGO TAKAMORI'S HIDEOUT
(As I walked down from the observatory along the road I came across the 13 Buddhas followed by Saigo Cave. There was information in both english and japanese about how the cave was used. Glad to know more about the history of such an important man and this was the final piece).
35- SAKEBI NO SHOZO
This monument was created in remembrance of a big musical festival held at this location 2004. The monument is made from local volcanic lava material. It is rather big and impressive and was finished in 2006. This is typical a monument you either love or hate.
36- Place of Takomori Saigo's Death
(For me interesting, if quite sparse and nothing to do other than look at the place where Saigo was killed. A good stop of point on the bus up to/down from the Shiroyama hotel).
37- Water Front Park Kagoshima
I enjoyed the Water Front Park between shopping at Dolphin Port and taking the Sakajima Ferry Terminal. It's open with a playground for kids and nice walking and jogging areas.
@Jackie San
38- Jigenji Park
39- WAKAKISATSUMA MONUMENT
40- ISHIN FURUSATO NO MICHI PROMENADE
41- FORMER KAGOSHIMA BOSEKIJOGISHIKAN
42- KAGOSHIMA CITY VIEW BUS
43- RYOMA, ORYO TO SATSUMA DE HITOYASUMI STATUE
44- KAGOSHIMA PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT COMMEMORATION HALL
45- NISHI HONGAN-JI TEMPLE KAGOSHIMA BETSU-IN
46- DOCTOR TANGE UMA STATUE
47- TSURUGANE SHRINE
48- TATEWAKI KOMATSU STATUE
49- NARIAKIRA SHIMAZU STATUE
50- MINATO ODORI PARK
51- SATSUMA CLAN MONUMENT
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