Kagoshima Private & Custom Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Sengan-en is a Japanese style stately home and landscape garden along the coast north of downtown Kagoshima.　 Sengan-en was built in 1658 as one of the residences of the powerful Shimadzu clan. One of the garden's most striking features is its use of active volcano Sakurajima and Kagoshima Bay as borrowed scenery. The gardens cover 50,000 square meters and include calming ponds, bubbling streams, mysterious shrines, a bamboo grove, and a mountain hiking trail. Visit Tsurugane Shrine and pray to become more beautiful, or the unusual Cat Shrine and pray for the health and longevity of your feline friend! The expansive house provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of one of Japan’s most influential feudal lords, and hosted Edward VIII of the UK and Nicholas II of Russia among others. See the rooms that the lord spent his daily life in and enjoy the view of the gardens and scenery beyond as only a samurai lord could.

   1.2 h

2. Kyu Shuseikan Kikai Kojo(Shouko Shuseikan) The extant oldest western-style factory building in Japan. The exhibits currently showcase items related to the Satsuma domain's modernization projects.

   10 min

3. Satsuma Kiriko Glassworks・Iso Kogei-kan You can watch the manufacturing process of Satsuma Kiriko Cut-glass here as well as buy pieces at the neighboring Iso Kogei-kan. Chinese overlaying coloured glass techniques were fused with European glass cutting methods to produce this delicate and graceful cut glass masterpiece. Developed by the 28th lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Nariakira, the technique faded out with his death for a period. However, more than a hundred years later, the mysterious and beautiful sparkle was revived and came to be known nation-wide as a representative craftwork of Kagoshima.

   Passes by

4. Foreign Engineer's Residence (Ijinkan) A residence for the foreign engineers who began the operation of the first Western-style spinning mill in Japan. Films and exhibits in the facility present the interesting features and importantance of World Heritage.

   Passes by

5. Shiroyama ("Castle Mountain") is a 107-meter hill located in the center of Kagoshima city. Its name comes from the fact that it was once the site of a castle. The 2-kilometer promenade to the observatory is filled with more than 600 species of plants. Though located in an urban area, it is a treasure trove of nature populated by many birds and insects. The observatory located at the end of the promenade is a magnificent photo spot overlooking Mt. Sakurajima and Kinko Bay.

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6. Satsuma domain. This castle gate, thelargest one of this kind in Japan with itsheight and width of 20 meters, was restored in 2020 for the first time inabout 150 years.

   Passes by

7. Sakurajima Visitor Center Learn the history of Sakurajima's volcanic　eruptions through films and dioramas. A base facility of the Geopark. You can shop a diverse lineup of specialty goods and souvenirs.

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8. "Sakurajima" Yougan Nagisa Park Public Footbath A 100 meters long footbath, one of the biggest in Japan. Enjoy the all-natural hot spring while gazing up at Sakurajima.

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9. Yunohira Observatory is the highest point on Mt. Sakurajima open to the general public. From the observatory, you can see a rough lava field and, at times, rising plumes of volcanic smoke. This spot commands a picturesque view of Kagoshima City and the calm waters of Kinko Bay. The night brings a beautiful view in which the pitch dark of Mt. Sakurajima contrasts with the lights of Kagoshima City. Taking inspiration from the name Sakurajima (cherry blossom island), the roof over the observation deck is shaped like a cherry blossom petal.

   Passes by

10. The observatory is located along a 1-km trail on a small hill in the lava field created by the great 1946 eruption. From here there is a clear view of impressive Sakurajima, the world famous active volcano, and Kinko Bay. As the observatory is close to the crater of the steep, cone shaped South Peak, you may hear roaring or explosive sounds from the crater that give quite a different impression of Sakurajima.

    Passes by

11. The name "Tenmonkan" comes from an astronomical institute called Meijikan built by the Satsuma domain in the Edo period. Today Tenmonkan is Kagoshima's central shopping district where you can enjoy shopping and eating out.

    Passes by

12. The greatest shrine in Kagoshima with an enormous Torii gate. A popular sightseeing spot especially during the new years and Rokugatsudo Lantern Festival. Admission to the shrine is free of charge

    Passes by

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Reviews

Ratings come from 41 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Kagoshima

• Its from-price is 41% above the median of the 16 day trips we list in Kagoshima.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 1 of 16.

About Kagoshima

Kagoshima, in southern Kyushu, faces the smoking volcano of Sakurajima across a bay, with a samurai past, hot springs and sweet-potato spirits.

Kagoshima stands on a bay in southern Kyushu, with the active volcano Sakurajima rising from the water just across from the city. A short ferry ride crosses the bay, and a lava flow in the 1914 eruption joined the former island to the mainland. Ash sometimes drifts over the city, which has long been used to it.

Top-ranked sights in Kagoshima: Sengan-en Garden, Shoko Shuseikan Museum.

See all 89 experiences in Kagoshima