Just read this article for your first self-guided trip to Kagoshima! Recommended must-see attractions in Ibusuki, Kirishima, Minamikyushu and Kagoshima

62 islands!

Kagoshima, the southernmost part of Kyushu, Japan, has a variety of scenic spots. It is highly recommended to take a free trip! Including Sakurajima active volcanoes, rich natural hot springs and rare Ibusuki sand steamed hot springs; oil-scented black dolphin dishes and Satsuma fish cakes are also unique delicacies of Kagoshima. ” Happy Shopping! “Japan” has sorted out the must-see attractions for the first visit to Kagoshima, including Kirishima City, Kagoshima City, Ibusuki City and Minamikyushu City. Come and see what must-see attractions are available!

Just read this article for your first self-guided trip to Kagoshima! Recommended must-see attractions in Ibusuki, Kirishima, Minamikyushu and Kagoshima

Catalogue

A mythical place floating in the sea fog: Kirishima City

The reason why Kirishima City is called Kirishima is that it is said that the gods looked down from the sky and saw this beautiful island floating in the fog on the sea. In fact, Kirishima is not an island. The city of Kirishima overlooks Kagoshima Bay and is separated from Miyazaki Prefecture by the continuous peaks of Kirishima. The scenery with mountains and seas has created rich tourist resources. The following is an introduction to 3 must-see scenic spots in Kirishima City!

Kirishima’s strongest energy attraction and Japan’s national treasure! Kirishima Shrine

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Front photo of Kirishima Shrine in Kirishima City, Kagoshima

Qiong Qiong, a character in the myth of the founding of Japan, was ordered by the great god of Amaterasu to come to the Takachiho Gorge, one of the peaks of Kirishima, and gave birth to Yukihiko Yama and Kaiyukihiko, who are also gods. Kirishima Shrine is dedicated to Qiongqiong. You can pray for the safety, health and examination of your family. It is a representative scenic spot that you must visit in Kirishima! To reach the main temple, you must first go through the largest torii at the entrance of the shrine, the second torii at the entrance of Omotesando, and the last torii at the entrance of the main temple. The scenery along the way will change with the seasons. From late March to early April every year, you can enjoy cherry blossoms, rhododendrons in May, and maple leaves from late November.

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Kirishima Jingu Forest Road in Kirishima City, Kagoshima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Kirishima Jingu Torii in Korishima City, Kagoshima

It is worth mentioning that on February 9, 2022, the main hall, coin hall and worship hall of Kirishima Shrine were officially designated as national treasures by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, which is also the first building cultural property in Kagoshima Prefecture to become a national treasure. Because Kirishima Shrine is located on the hillside of Kirishima Mountain, the building also uses this terrain to make adjustments. With gorgeous decoration, the overall atmosphere is more solemn. The design of the “Dragon Pillar” in front of the temple can be seen that it is influenced by East Asian culture, and there are very diverse.

Kirishima Hot Spring Village Center: Kirishima Hot Spring Market

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Kirishima Hot Spring Market in Kirishima City, Kagoshima

Kagoshima is the prefecture and city with the second largest number of hot springs in Japan. There are four hot spring towns in Kirishima City alone. Among them, the “Kishima Hot Spring Market” is a 15-minute drive from Kirishima Shrine. You can visit Kirishima Shrine first and then take a break here to go to the next scenic spot.

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Captain Aヒル of Kirishima Hot Spring Market in Kirishima City, Kagoshima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Wormwood cake from Kirishima Hot Spring Market in Kirishima City, Kagoshima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Hot spring steamhouse in Kirishima Hot Spring Market in Kirishima City, Kagoshima

Kirishima Hot Spring Market is a small square. There is a foot bath in the center of the square. Self-service service is adopted. As long as you invest 100 yen, you can enjoy the foot bath and dry it with the towel provided next to it. The most cute thing is that you can also take a bath with Kirishima’s hot spring ambassador “Captain Duck” (Aヒル)! The hot spring steam food that you can’t miss when you come to the hot spring town can also be eaten at the Kirishima Hot Spring Market. Hot spring steam food includes hot spring eggs, Kagoshima sweet potatoes, and local limited hot spring steamed buns in Kirishima Hot Spring! The hot spring steamed buns here are made of wormwood, stuffed with red bean puree, and the taste is full of local feelings.

Black vinegar restaurant “The hometown of black vinegar, Li Zhitian”

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! The cuisine of the black vinegar restaurant “Shida, the hometown of black vinegar” in Kirishima City, Kagoshima

The geographical location of Kirishima, which is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the sea in the south, has created a unique climate that is warm in winter and cool in summer. Such a climate is also the most suitable for fermentation and brewing. In the Fukuyama area of Kirishima, it is the origin of Japanese black vinegar! The black vinegar brewed by Kirishima is put into the urn and fermented directly under nature. Here you can often see pieces of black vinegar urn fields. After several years of natural fermentation, black vinegar does not taste the pungent smell of vinegar at all, only a smooth sour fragrance.

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! An in-store scene of the black vinegar restaurant “Shida, the hometown of black vinegar” in Kirishima City, Kagoshima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! The black vinegar jar of the black vinegar restaurant “Shida, the hometown of black vinegar” in Kirishima City, Kagoshima

“Zhu Zhitian” is the first brewing factory to open a black vinegar restaurant. In their restaurant “Zhu Zhitian, the hometown of black vinegar”, the first floor is the sales office of various black vinegar products, and the second floor is a landscape restaurant with a view of the sea! ” The most signature must-eat in the “Zhitian” black vinegar restaurant is “sweet and sour pork”. Sweet and sour pork is a Japanese Chinese dish similar to sweet and sour ribs. Usually, it smells like pungent vinegar and tastes sour. However, sweet and sour pork cooked with black vinegar, whether it smells or tastes like vinegar, is much milder, and the pork is also softened by black vinegar enzymes, which tastes super delicious!

The busiest city in Kagoshima: Kagoshima City

Kagoshima City is the center of Kagoshima, and the “Tenmonkan Street Shopping Street” is the hust area of Minamikyushu. Kagoshima City is vast. In addition to Kagoshima Planetarium Shopping Street and Yatai Street, Sakurajima Active Volcano is also in Kagoshima City! It’s a pity not to visit these scenic spots when you come to Kagoshima!

The location of an active volcano like a movie scene: Sakurajima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Sakurajima Volcano in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima

Sakurajima is one of the active volcanoes in Japan that is still active. As soon as you set foot on Sakura Island, you will be deterred by the standing volcano. Walking on Sakura Island, the slightly smoky volcano has been in front of us. It is a spectacular and a little sacred scene. It is a rare scenery for us in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Sakurajima Observatory in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Sakurajima Lava Seaside Park in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima

If you want to enjoy the volcano, you can go to the observation deck of the “Yunohira Observatory” on Sakurajima Island, or you can go to the largest foot bath “Sakurajima Lava Seaside Park” in Japan, to see the volcano from afar and enjoy the foot bath. You can take the “Sakurajima Ferry” from the center of Kagoshima to Sakurajima.

The busiest city in Minamikyushu: Kagoshima Central Station ~ Planetarium Street Shopping Street

The trams in downtown Kagoshima are so cute.

White bear shaved ice

Photo source: Ice White Bear’s Home Planetarium Mujaki

The busiest area of Kagoshima is from Kagoshima Central Station to Planetarium Street Shopping Street. The department store “AMU PLAZA”, which is co-constructed with Kagoshima Central Station, can buy clothing and miscellaneous goods of major brands. There are also many restaurants in the food street where you can eat Kagoshima’s local food. If you want to find a more local restaurant, we recommend the Planetarium Street Shopping Street, which is the largest shopping street in Minamikyushu, where cosmetics, food or restaurants are all gathered! Kagoshima’s famous white bear shaved ice can also be eaten in the shopping street of the planetarium!

Find Kagoshima’s delicious food here! Kagoshima Yatai Village

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Yatai Village in Kagoshima City

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Yatai Village in Kagoshima City

“Kagoshima Yatai Village” near Kagoshima Central Station is a more advanced food choice! This is like a small night market, including 18 shops in the underground street of the Kagoshima Central Transshipment Station Building and 7 shops on the first floor of the Lika Building, with a total of 25 delicious choices. With Kagoshima’s local cuisine as the center, it is definitely a must-see attraction for gourmets!

The world’s rare steamed hot spring town! Ibusuki City

Ibusuki City is located in the south of Kagoshima. When you drive a car and find that the road is getting bigger and bigger, and the road trees on both sides are full of coconut trees, you will come to Ibusuki City, which is full of southern customs! Ibusuki can be said to be a place with rich tourist resources in Kagoshima. The following places are the sightseeing points that should not be missed and specially recommended by Ibusuki!

Sand Steamed Hot Spring Hall “Sand Music”

Ibusuki City is one of the rare natural sand steaming hot spring villages in the world. “Sand steaming hot spring” is a unique hot spring soaking method that gushing out of the coast will heat the sand of the beach, and then tourists bury it in the sand. This bathing method began to exist 300 years ago, and people praised that the effect of sand steaming hot springs is 3 to 4 times better than that of ordinary hot springs!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Kagoshima Ibusuki City Sand Steaming Hot Spring Hall “Sale” Sand Steaming Location

“Let’s eat! The “Sale” that the reporter of Japan came to is one of the most famous sand steaming hot spring facilities. First of all, after paying at the counter, you can take the bathrobe to the locker room and put it on. Then walk to the sand steaming hot spring venue by the sea, and the staff will take you to the sand bath venue under the eaves and begin to “bury” you. When the whole body other than the head is buried in the warm sand, in addition to the weight, you can also clearly feel your blood vessels beating, which is very comfortable. After staying in the steaming hot spring for 15 minutes, you will feel refreshed when you get up! After leaving the sand steaming venue, go to the indoor hot spring to take a bath, and the experience is complete! When the weather is good, you can also enjoy the sand steaming hot spring on the beach!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! The sea view of “Sale” in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima

Conquer JR Japan’s southernmost station! Nishidashan Station

There is another landmark worth taking photos in Ibusuki, which is the southernmost station of JR Japan, “Nishidayama Station”. Nishidashan Station is a small unmanned station of local railways, but because it is the southernmost station of JR Railway, and you can clearly see Kaiwenyue, known as “Satsumo Fuji”, you must come here to take photos!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! The southernmost station of JR in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima “Nishioyama Station”

The origin of the slotary fluid surface! Tangchuanxia hydrogen surface

The southern atmosphere of Ibusuki City makes eating very happy. Even the traditional Japanese water-flowing noodles have their own way of eating in Ibusuku. The Tangchuan Gorge water-flowing hydrogen noodles in Ibushu is a round container where the noodles are constantly flowing from the mountain spring water. The noodles are put into the water and you can eat them. You can enjoy the fun of eating and playing!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Tang Funa Gorge in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima

Tangchuanxia has clean mountain spring water, so the noodles are cold and elastic. The noodles for one person are served with local specialties of vanilla-grilled trout, rice balls and carp miso soup. You can also experience the fun relotating noodles, which only costs about 1,500 yen, which is very worth experiencing!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! How to eat Tang Funa Gorge Hydrogen Noodles in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Vanilla-roasted trout and rice balls in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima

The store that the reporter went to was “City-run Tangchuanxia Flowing Water” (City-run Tangchuanxiaそうめん流し). The entrance was surrounded by dense trees, like a forest! Going down the long stairs, there is a pond with clear water, carp or sturgeon, and you can clearly see the fish swimming leisurely. If you are not careful, you will mistakenly think that you are in a fairyland!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Tang Funa Gorge in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! A view of the Tang Funa Gorge in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima

Southern Kagoshima: Minamikyushu City

Minamikyushu City is located in the southern part of Kagoshima Prefecture, with a very large area, so you can visit all the mountains and seaside attractions that are not close to the sea at once. Next, I will introduce three must-visit attractions in Minamikyushu City!

The best place to enjoy “Satsuma Fuji”: Fanshobi Nature Park

“Banshohana Nature Park” was a security station to monitor the situation at sea in the Edo period. Because the scenery is empty, the sea and the sky can be clearly seen. Compared with the “Kaiwen Mountain” standing in front of it, the first person who made the Japanese map, “Ino Tadataka”, also praised that this is the best scenery of the world!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Satsuma Fuji Landscape of Banshohana Natural Park in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima

In the Fansobi Natural Park, you can see many statues and signs of seahorses. This is because there is the only seahorse sightseeing farm in Japan in the Fansobi Natural Park, and you can enter to see seahorses for free. There is also a “Sea Horse Good Bell” in the garden (竜のおとし子~吉鐘~). With the number of times the bell is rung, you can wish for love, a happy couple or a safe birth!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Satsuma Fuji Landscape of Banshohana Natural Park in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! Heart-shaped seahorse stone statue in Fanshohana Natural Park in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima

The most special way to worship the shrine! Kamagai Shrine

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! The appearance of Kamagai Shrine in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima

Located about a five-minute drive from the Bansohana Nature Park, the “Kamagai Shrine” is also known as the “Kamagai Shrine”. As soon as you get close to the shrine, you can see that there is a big pot lid on the shrine. The way of worship here is very special. You have to put the lid of the pot prepared by the shrine on your head and walk from the torii at the entrance to the altar. If you don’t fall down, your wish will come true! If you think it’s too difficult, you can also spend 100 Japanese dollars to buy a mini clay pot lid. As long as you successfully throw it into the pot by the sea, it is said that your wish will come true!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! The kamagai of Kamagai Shrine in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! The small kamagai of Kamagai Shrine in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima

“Zhilan’s Little Kyoto” Zhilan Buke Residence Group

The samurai residences of Zhilan are known as “Satsuma’s Little Kyoto”. The residences of these ancient samurai have been preserved since the Edo period and are gathered on both sides of a 700-meter-long road. The houses are separated by low stone walls and bushes, as if walking in a green maze! In addition, the seven courtyards in the martial arts residence are also designated as national scenic spots. It is the most interesting thing to walk among them and enjoy the different beauty of each homeowner!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! The group of samurai residences in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima

In the Zhilan samurai residences, some of them have been converted into cafes and restaurants, where you can sit in the courtyard of the samurai and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the garden. There are also some gardens that are not open. If you see the sign of “private land”, don’t disturb it!

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! A view of the samurai residences in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima

Read this article for the self-guided itinerary of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan! The appearance of the samurai residence group in Kagoshima Minamikyushu City

Public transportation in Kagoshima is relatively underdeveloped, so it is recommended to drive by yourself. You don’t have to worry about not being familiar with the road conditions, because the roads all over Kagoshima are large and there are not many vehicles, which is very suitable for slow driving sightseeing. Let’s arrange a 3-day and 2-night self-guided trip to Kagoshima with a snapshot of this article!

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