Sakurajima
Sakurajima, The Active Volcano Across The Bay From Kagoshima City, Erupting Often And Covering Streets In Ash, With A Lava Walk, A Foot Bath And Viewpoints. A Short Ferry Ride From The City And An Everyday Sight To Residents. · Kagoshima, Kagoshima
Sakurajima is an active volcano in Kagoshima Bay, a former island joined to the Osumi Peninsula by lava in the 1914 eruption. Its summit, Minamidake, rises to about 1,100 m, and the volcano erupts so often that small ash plumes are an everyday sight for the people of Kagoshima city across the water. A short ferry from Kagoshima port, about 15 minutes and running around the clock, brings you to the island, and a road circles the shore. Visitors stop at viewpoints, a visitor centre, a lava walk and a free foot bath, and eat the local giant daikon radish and tiny mikan oranges. It suits half a day or a full day on a Kagoshima stay and anyone curious about a living volcano. It is worth the detour for the ferry crossing and the viewpoints. It is not worth the trip on a heavy ash day or when alert levels close the paths. Sengan-en garden and Ibusuki are separate stops nearby, and Yakushima is a longer trip.
Sakurajima, Kagoshima, a 15-minute ferry from Kagoshima port; the island is also joined to the mainland by a road, Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Japan
The ferry from Kagoshima port runs around the clock, with frequent sailings in the day and fewer at night - confirm the timetable. The viewpoints, the lava walk and the foot bath are outdoors and open in daylight, while the visitor centre has set hours and a closing day - confirm. Access near the crater depends on the volcanic alert level, and at Level 3 the paths close. The ferry crossing takes about 15 minutes. Local buses and sightseeing buses circle the island, and rental cars or bicycles are options; carry cash for small shops. Nothing needs booking, but check the eruption status first.