[Southern Kyushu – Kagoshima] 2023.12 Winter - Sakurajima Volcano Self-Driving Day Tour

Sakurajima Volcano is an iconic landmark of Kagoshima and one of the few active volcanoes that tourists can visit. It is said to erupt once every three days on average, but the number of eruptions in recent years has been much less than before. We visited in mid-to-late December, and the most recent eruption was on December 10th. Sakurajima is separated from Kagoshima City by Kagoshima Bay, and can be reached by ferry. However, since 1914, Sakurajima is no longer an island. Due to the "Taisho Eruption", Sakurajima is connected to the Osumi Peninsula, so it is also possible to enter Sakurajima via the Osumi Peninsula. Since we stayed in Kagoshima city the night before, we chose to drive and take the ferry to the island. The ferry to Sakurajima can be taken with your car, and the journey only takes 15 minutes. There are also flights 24 hours a day. If you are boarding the ferry with your car, just follow the staff's instructions to park your car. After parking your car, you can move freely on the boat. Don't be like us, who waited until the boat started before getting off the car when no one else got off. We wasted a lot of time and could only quickly eat the ferry's specialty - udon noodles. After the ferry arrives at the dock, follow the staff's instructions to leave the ferry. The ferry fare will be paid at the toll station based on the size of the vehicle and the number of people. The Sakurajima Rest Station Product Hall near the pier sells fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as souvenirs, Sakurajima's famous tangerine ice cream, and a restaurant. For lunch, we tried the udon noodles soaked in tangerine peel. The taste was unique and we recommend you try it. The hamachi donburi that came with the udon set was also fresh and delicious, and very memorable. After eating and drinking, we drove to Yunohira Observatory. There is a heart-shaped stone inlaid in the stairs leading from the parking lot to the observatory, which is very romantic. Unfortunately, the weather that day was as unpredictable as a girl's mood. It was cloudy, sunny, rainy and windy. We finally waited for a little sunshine, but the clouds covered the top of the volcano and we had no chance to appreciate the beauty of this active volcano. The temperature that day was only -3 degrees, which was very cold. After staying there for a while, I finally succumbed to the kiss of the wind and immediately went to the souvenir shop on the lower floor of the observatory to keep warm. Then, go to Sakurajima Lava Seaside Park for a footbath. Maybe it was because of the cold weather and we chose to sit in a place without a roof near the shore, so the water temperature was not high. In the end, we could only take a quick dip for the sake of courtesy. After all, we were already here, and we couldn't give up soaking just because of strong winds and low water temperature. Sakurajima is not big, and it only takes about an hour to drive around the island. We cruised along the beach, enjoying the sea breeze. The other side of the island was sparsely populated with houses and a few schools. As we drove on, we arrived at the "Kurogami Buried Torii" and "Kurogami Hell". I originally wanted to go to "Black God Hell" to find out what's inside, but unfortunately the road leading to "Black God Hell" has been closed, so I had no chance to explore it. The "Kurogami Buried Torii" was originally a 3-meter-high torii gate of the "Furugosha Shrine", but it was buried by volcanic ash from the "Taisho Eruption" in 1914. Only the current 1-meter-high torii top and a surviving old banyan tree remain, quietly warning of the impermanence of disasters in future generations. After leaving the Kurokami Buried Torii, we drove along National Highway 224 back to Sakurajima Port, watched the sunset, and took the ferry back to Kagoshima City. The next morning, after I got up and opened the hotel curtains, I saw that it was a clear and sunny day. So I decided to go to the hotel's large public bath to soak in the hot spring. While looking at the entire view of the volcano, I lamented that my fate with Sakurajima was still a little shallow. #Japan and Korea City Attractions #Southern Kyushu #Kagoshima #Sakurajima Volcano #Overseas Travel #Self-driving Tour #Japan Self-driving Tour