It’s time for another Kyūshū excursion beyond the city borders of Fukuoka. The topic today will be Kagoshima, the most southern metropolis of Japan. 

Kagoshima (鹿児島) is the capital city of the same named Prefecture at the south western tip of the island of Kyushu and the largest city in the prefecture by some margin. The city was officially founded on April 1, 1889. As of 1 January 2015, Kagoshima City has an estimated population of 606,624. The total area is 546.71 km2. 

Kagoshima City is approximately 40 minutes from Kagoshima Airport, and features shopping districts and malls located wide across the city. 

Transportation options in the city include the Shinkansen, local train, city trams, buses, and ferries to-and-from Sakurajima. The large and modern Kagoshima City Aquarium, situated near a shopping district known as “Dolphin Port” and the Sakurajima Ferry Terminal, was established in 1997 along the docks and offers a direct view of Sakurajima. 

One of the best places to view the city is from the Amuran Ferris wheel atop of Amu Plaza Kagoshima, and the shopping center attached to the central Kagoshima-Chūō Station. Just outside the city is the early-Edo Period Japanese Garden. Outside the garden grounds is  the Shoko Shūseikan Museum, which was built in 1865 and registered as a National Historic Site in 1959. The former Shuseikan industrial complex and the former machine factory were submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage as part of a group list titled Modern Industrial Heritage Sites in Kyushu and Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Kagoshima Prefecture has a distinct and rich food culture. The warm weather and diverse environments allow for the agriculture and aquaculture of Kagoshima to thrive and gain nationwide and worldwide recognition for unique and quality products.

Kagoshima is definitely worth a visit, it’s a good destination for summer holidays!