Day 5 (July 5, 2026): Sakurajima Volcano

Today held two major activities for us, before leaving for the airport at 3:45PM for our flight to Okinawa.  First, the ferry to Sakurajima, the very lively and ever-spewing volcano just four KM from Kagoshima.  Second, Sengan-en, the former home of one of Japan’s princes.

The persistent clouds kept obscuring the peak of Sakurajima again today.  By day’s end, however, the volcano was the most visible it had been during our stay.

We stopped back at the Sheraton for a quick bite and shower before heading to the airport. 

The flight to Okinawa was on time and easy. However, upon arrival, we were shocked to learn that Budget Rent-a-Car would not rent us a vehicle, as my International Driver’s Permit (IDP) was in electronic form;  Japan, apparently, is the only country that requires a booklet format of the IDP. That detail had eluded me during my planning.  We were left to scramble to get transportation to our hotel, which is an hour north of the airport, not to mention trying to concoct a “plan B’ for getting around this massive island over the next couple of days.

Ferry Trip to Sakurijima



The ferry we took over to Sakurijima. Car/passenger ferries ply the route every 15 minutes and are very, very busy.

The Island View Bus provides an easy way for tourists to take in the main sights on the “island” (not really an island, as the 1914 eruption joined the island to the mainland).


This trough often sees mudslides come down from the volcano. The research station adjacent to it studies these slides.

Everything in Kagoshima - and especially on the island of Sakurijima - is about coverage and protection of assets from the falling volcanic ash.

Even the Buddhist graveyards have canopies over the graves.

The view of Kagoshima from Sakurijima.

Aquaculture, just offshore.


The Yunohire Observatory is as close as people can get to the volcano.

At the Yunohira Observatory, 373m.

A cove with fishing boats on Sakurajima. It could be any fishing cove back home in Atlantic Canada!

Our 3km coastal hike was in a landscape of jagged lava rock.





At the Geo Park, Japan’s longest “footpath” (100m) allows visitors to soak their feet in 40C water, from geothermal sources 1KM below the surface.




This is ash from the volcano. When it falls, it covers everything with grit.


Two ferries passing, one leaving Sakurajima and another arriving.

Not sure you can see it, but there is a white dot inside the circle. That dot is the Yunohira Observatory, which is as close as you can get to the summit of the volcano.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable morning on Sakurajima!

Goromon Gate of the Kagashima Castle ruins.

Goromon Gate of the Kagashima Castle ruins.


Visit to Sengan-en

Stately home and gardens of the powerful Shimadzu clan overlooking Sakurajima. Built in 1658 by Shimadzu Mitsuhisa, Sengan-en is one of Japan’s most famous traditional gardens. The house and gardens to give a true feel of how a feudal lord lived.  Sengan-en was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2015 due to the role this area played in the modernization of Japan.










Cat shrine.


Back at the hotel, the 18th Floor view gave one final glimpse of Sakurajima with the least amount of cloud cover we had seen since our arrival.

We are amazed that the show and tub in our last two hotels have been combined like this. As another example of Japan’s innovation, the showers include a movable seat. Very practical!

Kagoshima’s ferris wheel at Kagoshima Station.

An interesting geological format enroute to the airport. The forests in the area are thick and lush.

The cab drivers all wear hats and pressed white shirts. Many also wear white gloves. Doily-like covers on the headrests are also common. Being a cab driver here is serious and respectable business!

The colourful livery of the Solaseed Airlines Boeing 737, which took us from Kagoshima to Okinawa.


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