Circle Japan: Part 7 - Kagoshima

Kagoshima: From Springtime Sakura to Summer Discoveries


My first trip to Kagoshima was in early spring of 2023, when my sole focus was chasing sakura blossoms.

While I had seen them in several cities, it wasn’t until we reached Chiran — a small town in Kagoshima Prefecture famous for its preserved Samurai houses — that I witnessed cherry blossoms in their full, breathtaking splendor. Chiran’s streets, framed with delicate pink blooms against traditional architecture, felt like stepping into a painting.


Fast forward to my recent visit, this time in the height of summer, I decided to explore Kagoshima beyond its springtime beauty. The city, tucked at the southern tip of Kyushu, is a paradise for nature lovers like me.


The first thing to greet me was Sakurajima, the city’s iconic volcano rising dramatically from the bay. I had planned to take the ferry over and hike its trails, but the sweltering heatwave had other plans. Instead, I opted for shaded streets and indoor discoveries, starting with Tenmonkan, Kagoshima’s lively shopping district.


You can’t spend much time in Kagoshima without hearing the name Saigō Takamori, a key figure in the Meiji Restoration and, thanks to Tom Cruise’s “The Last Samurai,” a familiar name to movie fans. Saigō is a local hero here — so much so that his likeness even appears on bus driver’s seat covers. His statue stands proudly at the start of the city’s cultural street, a fitting introduction to the string of museums that follow. I wandered into the Kagoshima City Museum of Art, escaping the midday sun while soaking up the region’s artistic treasures.


Even in the heat, I couldn’t resist a visit to Sengan-en Gardens, once the stately home of the Shimadzu clan. The landscaped ponds, elegant pathways, and distant views of Sakurajima offered a serene pause from the bustle of the city. Along the way, I spotted several statues of Shimadzu family members, a reminder of their long and influential history in the region. I also stopped at Terukuni Shrine, its tranquil grounds shaded by ancient trees.


Of course, no trip is complete without tasting the local flavors. Kagoshima’s specialties are as memorable as its scenery — kinibago (silver-stripe herring) sushi, kurobuta (Berkshire black pork) ramen, and on a day as hot as this one, an indulgent shaved ice was absolute bliss. Before leaving, I picked up some sweet potato treats, a Kagoshima favorite, to bring a taste of the trip back home.


Kagoshima may have first stolen my heart with its springtime sakura, but my summer visit showed me its deeper character — a place where history, culture, and nature all flow together, framed by the ever-watchful Sakurajima. I’ll be back in the spring 2026 and hopefully finally hike that volcano.

I’ll return to Japan in the Spring of 2026 to complete the circle. 


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Port of Call: Kagoshima


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