KAGOSHIMA PREFECTURE

KAGOSHIMA HOTELS

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KAGOSHIMA MAIN CITIES and TOWNS

Kagoshima, located on the south western tip of Kyushu, is frequently referred to as the "Naples of Japan", as it features a semi tropical climate, a bay side location and is dominated by a massive volcano, Sakurajima. Kagoshima City is the capital of Kagoshima Prefecture. Kagoshima attractions include the ruins of Kagoshima Castle, also known as Tsurumarujo Castle, Kagoshima Aquarium, Museum of Meiji Restoration, Senganen Japanese garden and Siroyama Observatory.

Kirishima is the second largest city in Kagoshima Prefecture and is located in the north eastern part of the prefecture. Kirishima is surrounded by the Kirishima Volcanic Chain which includes Mt Sakurajima, Yakushima Islands and ten crater lakes. Kirishima is located at the entrance to Kirishima-Yaku National Park. Kirishima attractions include Kirishima Shrine, which is designated Important Cultural Property and the nearby hot springs at Myoban, Yunotani and Shin-yu.

KAGOSHIMA CASTLES

Kagoshima Castle, also known as Tsurumarujo Castle, was a flatland Japanese Castle located in Kagoshima Kagoshima Prefecture. Kagoshima Castle was completed in 1601 by Shimazu Iehisa, shortly after his father, Shimazu Yoshihiro, had been defeated at the Battle of Sekigahara by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1600. Kagoshima Castle was a small and not very well built castle, even though Shimazu was one of the wealthy daimyo in Japan at the time. Only the moat and stone walls remain from the original castle.

KAGOSHIMA GARDENS and PARKS

Ishibashi Park, located in Hamacho Kagoshima, features three of the original five historic stone bridges which crossed the Kotsuki River. Two of the bridges were destroyed by a flood in 1993. The remaining three were then moved to Ishibashi Park and restored. The bridges were then opened to the public in 2000.

Senganen is a traditional Japanese garden, located in Kagoshima. Senganen was created for the 19th Lord of the Shimadzu Clan, Mitsuhisa and takes advantage of the backdrop formed by Kinko Bay and Sakurajima.

Tadamoto Park, located in Okuchi in Kagoshima Prefecture, is most famous for its cherry blossom being considered one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots.

Yakushima is a ancient forest with some 2100 year old Japanese cedar trees and an extensive range of flora with some 1,900 species and subspecies. Yakushima is located on Yaku Island off the coast of Kyushu. Yakushima is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the "Yakushima" listing.

KAGOSHIMA MOUNTAINS

Sakurajima is an acitve volcano located across Kagoshima Bay from Kagoshima city. Sakurajima still deposits large amounts of volcanic ash on the surrounding area, but the last major eruption was in 1914 when a lava flow joined what had been an island to the Osumi Peninsula.

KAGOSHIMA AMUSEMENT PARKS

Amuran is a 60m diameter Ferris wheel located on top of the Amu Plaza Kagoshima and is one of the major attractions in Kagoshima. At its highest point, Amuran is 91m above the ground and provides excellent views of Kagoshima and the active volcano, Sakurajima, located across Kagoshima Bay. Amuran features 36 complete transparent gondolas and take just under 15 minutes to complete a revolution.

KAGOSHIMA TRAIN STATIONS

Kagoshima Chuo Station, which literially means Kagoshima Central Station, is the main train station in Kagoshima city. Operated by the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), Kagoshima Chuo Station is served by the Kyushu Shinkansen, which connects Kagoshima to Fukuoka (Hakata Station) via Kumamoto. Kagoshima Chuo Station is the terminus for this Shinkansen line. Kagoshima Chuo Station is also served by the Kagoshima Main Line and the Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line. Kagoshima Chuo Station is located next to the Amu Plaza Kagoshima.

BEPPU
Beppu is a city on the island of Kyushu which is famous for its traditional Japanese bath houses, onsen built around natural hot springs.

FUKUOKA
Fukuoka, also known by its traditional name Hakata, is the largest city on the Japanese island of Kyushu.Fukuoka is famous for its food including its ramen.

KUMAMOTO
Kumamoto is a city on the island of Kyushu which is famous for its Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Park, a beautiful Japanese garden.

NAGASAKI
Nagasaki is the largest city and capital of the island of Kyushu. Nagasaki is famous for having an atomic bomb dropped on it, but it also has long and diverse history, much of which survived the bombing.