Kagoshima City鹿児島市

A castle town known for an active volcano, Sakura-jima Island. Historic spots from the Meiji Restoration remain here.

Kagoshima, the administrative, economic, and cultural center of Kagoshima Prefecture, is a castle town dating back to the 14th century. Kagoshima and its suburbs are located in the northeastern part of the Satsuma-hanto Peninsula, and face Kagoshima Bay, which is also called Kinko Bay. In the city, you can still find many historic spots associated with the Meiji Restoration, a time when political reforms were undertaken to transform the country from feudalism into a modern unified nation.

Shiro-yama, 107 meters above sea level, is a hill known as the last hard-fought battlefield of the Meiji Restoration. From the hilltop, you can see Kagoshima below, and also enjoy a view of Kagoshima Bay, with its quiet waves, in the distance, and the grandeur of Sakura-jima. At Sengan-en Garden (also known as Iso-teien Garden), constructed by Shimazu Mitsuhisa (the 19th head of the Shimazu Family) as another house for Tsurumaru Castle, you can enjoy a distant view of Sakura-jima Island beyond Kagoshima Bay, and will also be treated to the beautiful sights of cherry blossoms in spring and a variety of flowers, such as azaleas and chrysanthemums, throughout the four seasons. Among the items preserved and exhibited at the nearby Shoko-shusei-kan Museum are materials and records of the factories which supported the modernization of Kagoshima by manufacturing cannons, boats and glassware, called Satsuma-kiriko, during the Edo Period in 17th century.

The area most developed in recent years is located near the north wharf, where lots of events which take advantage of the vast green zone are held, including a fireworks display during which as many as 13,000 sets of fireworks are set off, live concerts, and sunset cruises in summer. In fall, the Ohara-matsuri Festival is held, where about 20,000 dancers parade along the main streets of the city, attracting more than 600,000 spectators.