Kagoshima Guide

Kagoshima Ferry Port

Shadowed by the rugged slopes of the monumental Sakurajima stratovolcano, its active peak still spewing great clouds of ash and smoke, is the seaside city of Kagoshima. Though ranked as the rainiest region in all of Japan, this sprawling city on the southernmost tip of the country’s Kyushu island more than makes up for it with its heady mix of culture and history. Once the most powerful Japanese province under the name of Satsuma, the region was rocked in 1877 by an armed uprising of embittered samurai warriors who were angry at having their military status stripped by the Empire. After months of fighting, the rebellion was crushed and the samurai class never recovered. The locals of Kagoshima are also known for their use of a unique dialect (known as the Satsugu dialect), that is unlike any other across Japan. The twang is so distinctive that even people of neighbouring regions struggle to decipher the peculiar words and phrases. The cuisine in Kagoshima is also defined by its uniqueness. Deep fried fish cakes known as Satsuma age are commonly eaten dipped in ginger-infused soy sauce, and a variety of locally caught fish- from Amberjack to Sashimi herring - are prepared in restaurants throughout the city. The port in Kagoshima is located on the banks of the deep-blue waters of Kagoshima bay, just opposite the island that plays host to the iconic Mount Sakurajima. Though the piers teem with vessels and the air is filled with the clatter and clang of the nearby shipyards, the harbour is surrounded by stretches of green parkland and broad-leafed palm trees that give the area a scenic front. The ferry terminal in Kagoshima, discerned by its triangular, green roof, is found on a wide pier just south of the Dolphin Port shopping centre. The terminal is supported by a multitude of transport links that allow passengers to head back and forth to Kagoshima City and beyond. Local taxis and coaches operate from bays just outside the entrance to the port, regularly whisking passengers both downtown and towards the mountainous back-country. One of the best ways to traverse the urban maze of bustling shopping malls and modern apartment blocks is by catching a city tram from Asahidori station just a ten-minute walk from the ferry terminal. Those looking to travel further afield can hop on a train from Kagoshima station and follow the Satsuma peninsula coastline along the Nippo Main Line; a route that shoots east to the cities of Miyakonojo and Miyazaki. A number of ferry routes currently operate from the port throughout the week. Services hosted by Tane Yaku Jetfoil lines sail across Kagoshima Bay to the islands that pepper the sea to the south; destinations including the district of Nishinoomote on Tanegashima Island, and the towns of Anbo and Miyanoura on the island of Yakushima. Another route makes a beeline for the tip of the Satsuma peninsula and the city of Ibusuki.