One day in Kagoshima is short but surprisingly manageable. From volcanic views to local flavours and a touch of history, you can fit in the highlights without feeling rushed. I’ve spent time wandering the streets, taking in the city, and sampling a few favourites along the way, and this guide pulls together the best way to see Kagoshima if you only have a day.
My 1-day Kagoshima itinerary is not jam-packed. Instead, it’s a realistic, easy-to-follow plan that lets you see the city and get a feel for the area. If you have more time, there are a few extra spots you might want to squeeze in, but this covers the essentials for a satisfying one-day visit.
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- MORNING: Sengan-en
- AFTERNOON: Sakurajima; Downtown area
- EVENING: Shochu tasting
BEST WAY TO GET AROUND: Kagoshima City Bus or tram. Ferry to Sakurajima.
BEST MONTHS TO VISIT KAGOSHIMA: Kagoshima can be visited most months of the year. Avoid the summer months as these are hotter and wetter and coincide with the peak of Japan’s typhoon season (August and September).
One Day in Kagoshima: Is It Enough?
I visited Kagoshima from Fukuoka, and this 1-day itinerary in Kagoshima shows how to enjoy the best things to see and do in a day. If you spend two days in Kagoshima (or more), you will be able to take in the city’s main attractions in a more leisurely manner, as well as travel a little further afield. I have included a few suggestions for extending your Kagoshima itinerary towards the end of this article.
How to Get to Kagoshima
By train: Kagoshima is around 90 minutes from Fukuoka (Hakata station) by the Sakura shinkansen (bullet train). From Kumamoto, the journey time is around 45 minutes.
By bus: As bus routes are limited and journey times are considerable, you are better off taking the train if you are visiting Kagoshima in a day.
By air: Kagoshima has an airport, a 40-60 minute bus ride north of the city centre, which handles domestic flights and selected international flights, including those from Seoul, Shanghai, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Getting Around Kagoshima
- Trams and loop buses connect the station with downtown and Sengan-en.
- Ferries for Sakurajima depart every 15–20 minutes, journey ~15 minutes.
- I used the Kagoshima City View loop buses, wonderful retro-style vehicles that stop at places associated with Kagoshima’s often bloody history. Recorded commentaries in English are available but some drivers provide their own commentary, which is far more entertaining!
- I bought a one-day pass. It’s a good deal, offering unlimited use of the City View Bus, regular bus and city trams on one calendar day. Visit the tourist information office at Kagoshima-Chuo station for a free map and to buy your City Bus pass.
- If I were to visit Kagoshima again, I would opt for the Cute Pass. This is valid on trams, regular buses, the City View Bus, the Sakurajima Ferry the Sakurajima Island View Bus.
- IC (interchargeable) cards like SUGOMON re accepted on trams and buses.
Morning in Kagoshima: Sengan-En
Start your day at Sengan-en. You can get here by taking the City View Bus from Kagoshima Chuo Station to Sengan-en Mae bus stop.
Sengan-en is home to a traditional Japanese-style landscape garden and is the former residence of the Shimadzu family, who ruled Kagoshima until the 19th century. It was built in 1658 and draws heavily on the principle of borrowed scenery, incorporating background elements of a smoking Sakurajima and Kinko Bay as part of the gardens.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site but not for the reason you might think.
Sengan-en is also the site of Japan’s oldest remaining stone factory. This was built in 1865 and was at the forefront of the Japanese Industrial Revolution.
During the Edo period, the Shimadzu clan owned several residences. Thirteen shrines from these residences were moved to Sengan-en and collected into a single shrine – the Oniwa Shrine – in 1918.
I was also taken with the Cat Shrine, built to mark the enshrinement of the two cats who survived an expedition to Korea taken by Yoshihiro, the 17th head of the Shimadzu family. The story goes that he could accurately tell the time of day during battle by looking at the eyes of his seven cats.
MY TIPS FOR VISITING SENGAN-EN
- As Senga-en covers 12 acres, it is ambitious to try to cover it all in one day. My advice is to pick up a leaflet at the entrance and follow the red route on the map. Signs around the site will also guide you.
- For sweeping views and a serene ambience, stop for a cup of sencha and a traditional Japanese sweet at the Senga-en Matcha Café.
Afternoon in Kagoshima: Sakurajima and Downtown
Ferries to Sakurajima Port leave Kagoshima every 15 – 20 minutes. The journey time is 15 minutes.
Sakurajima
Located in the middle of Kagoshima Bay, Sakurajima has three peaks. The highest of these is at an elevation of 1117 meters and has a circumference of about 50 kilometres.
This volcano has spewed ash and smoke constantly since 1955 and minor eruptions take place more than 1,000 times a year. Before a powerful eruption in 1914, Sakurajima used to be an island in the bay but the lava flow from that event created a land connection to the Osumi Peninsula.
MY TIPS FOR VISITING SAKURAJIMA
- Sakurajima is best explored by car, but that may not be practical if you are only in Kagoshima for one day and are a solo traveller.
- The easiest way to tour Sakurajima is to use the circular Sakurajima Island View sightseeing bus. The bus departs from Sakurajima Port every 30 minutes and takes 55 minutes to complete the loop. The last bus leaves the port at 4.30 pm.
- There are 12 stops but the bus only stops at all of these once an hour. Check the Sakurajima Island View timetable for further information.
- If you are short on time, I recommend making one stop at the Yunohira Observatory, the closest stop to the volcano. The bus makes a ten-minute photo stop here.
Kagoshima’s downtown area
Jump on the tram or City View Bus from Kagoshima Port to visit the city’s downtown area.
- Tenmonkan is awash with restaurants, some specialising in Kagoshima cuisine, plus shops and boutiques.
- One of the city’s best-known shrines, Terukuni Shrine, is a 10-minute walk. Next to the Terukuni Shrine is the Kagoshima Prefectural Museum, the city’s natural history museum.
- St. Xavier’s Catholic Cathedral is also close by.
Evening in Kagoshima: Drink the Local Tipple
I recommend you end your day in Kagoshima with a glass of the local fire water: shochu. Distilled from many kinds of ingredients including Japanese sweet potatoes, barley, rice, and buckwheat, it is best enjoyed straight (my preference) or with a water chaser.
Kanpai!
If You Have More Than One Day in Kagoshima
If you have more than one day in Kagoshima, it’s worth slowing the pace a little. An extra day makes it easier to spend more time on Sakurajima, visit Sengan-en without watching the clock, visit a museum or gallery, or take a short trip outside the city. I found Kagoshima works best when you’re not rushing between sights, especially if the weather is good and the volcano is visible.
Here are a few suggestion for optional extras:
- Shiroyama Observatory – for one of the best views of Kagoshima against the backdrop of a smoking Sakurajima
- Kagoshima City Museum of Art – home to a collection of Western-style works by artists from Kagoshima Prefecture as well as paintings by Western artists
- Kagoshima City Museum of Meiji Restoration – is a small museum dedicated to the city’s role in the Meiji Restoration, with a focus on local heroes such as Saigo Takamori (1828-1877) and Okubo Toshimichi (1830-1878).
- Day trip to Ibusuki – a hot spring town on the Satsuma Peninsula, where you can bury yourself in the town’s naturally heated sand
- Yakushima Island – a UNESCO-listed subtropical island off the coast of Kyushu, is home to some of the oldest trees on the planet.
Thank you for reading my Kagoshima day trip itinerary
I hope that you have a wonderful day. If you are spending more time on Kyushu island, take a look at my suggestions for the best things to do in Fukuoka.
Do you have questions about using the Japan Rail Pass? Then, take a look at my review of the JR Pass (you may be surprised at my verdict).
For advice on putting together your Japan itinerary, take a look at my guides on how to spend a day in Himeji, two days in Kanazawa and all you need to know for a perfect Osaka day trip. I also have a bumper Kyoto guide.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.