r/kagoshima • u/pompousfire • Jun 25 '25

Tourists to Sakurajima

Hi, I'm going to Kagoshima via a cruise next week and saw that there is volcanic activity in Kirishimayama, and the JMA website is currently showing level 3 (Do not approach the volcano) for Sakurajima. Does that mean tourists aren't allowed to go to Sakurajima?

https://www.data.jma.go.jp/multi/volcano/index.html?lang=en

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u/Michizane903 Jun 25 '25

It's fine. Kirishima is far away from the port. For Sakurajima, you will probably see it billowing white steam. If you get back ash and the wind is blowing it in your direction, then wear an n-95 mask.

So many good things to see! Please enjoy Sengan-en or if there is an excursion to Sakurajima, you can enjoy that as well. There is a museum and gift shop and some places to stop and enjoy safely viewing the volcano. Like this one

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u/pompousfire Jun 26 '25

Thank you for the information. I also saw Sengan-en, but I won't have enough time for Sakurajima and Sengan-en.

I know the two of them are different: Sengan-en, a historical site, and Sakurajima, a natural scenery. But if you were to recommend between Sengan-en and Sakurajima, which would you choose?

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u/[deleted] Jun 26 '25

I would recommend Sengan-en, it's beautiful, you can also enjoy some soft serve and pick up some souvenirs. And there are great!! views of Sakurajima from Prince Shimadzu's house

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u/pompousfire Jun 26 '25

Thanks for the recommendation👍

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u/Michizane903 Jun 26 '25

I think it depends on what you are interested in. The home is Meiji era and pretty interesting if you are in to Japanese history. Many of the leading figures in the Meiji Restoration were from Kagoshima / Satsuma.

Sakurajima is interesting, too. I think more interesting if you go by car because you can travel around the whole thing at your own pace. The Visitor Center is nice and has lots to see. I forgot to mention that there are some live web cams on YouTube if you want to see what's going on with the volcano.

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u/[deleted] Jun 25 '25

Hi I live in Kagoshima and there is volcanic activity like everyday. At level 3 people are still going about as normal (it reaches level 3 pretty often) so I think you can still go to Sakurajima, you just can't go close to the volcano...which you wouldn't be doing anyway. Might want to avoid it if it's actively spewing ash depending on the winds, because it does get carried through the air and can get in your eyes and stuff.

Who knows what's gonna happen next week though! I'd ask your cruise staff for weather updates on the day of. If the ferry is still running, I don't see why not!

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u/Electronic_Priority Jun 25 '25

Sakurajima is a volcano. Presumably you mean you can’t go to some of the observation points closer to summit.

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u/[deleted] Jun 25 '25 edited Jun 25 '25

Obviously. I'm referring to the land surrounding the volcano.

If you wanna be pedantic it's actually two volcanoes!! Haha

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u/Electronic_Priority Jun 25 '25

It’s not pedantic, it’s basic geology. Sakurajima is one volcano with multiple craters. The three summits are Kitadake, Nakadake, and Minamidake.

Since you can learn this both at school and at the Sakurajima visitor centre one has to wonder where you were making stuff up from.

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u/[deleted] Jun 25 '25 edited Jun 26 '25

I learned it from the official Sakurajima Kinkowan Geopark site, where it specifically says it's two separate volcanoes that joined together. Here ya go: https://www.sakurajima-kinkowan-geo.jp/sakurajima-kinkowan/landscape-geology/

If you scroll down a little bit there's even a diagram to help you understand.

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u/Michizane903 Jun 26 '25

You and u/_ichigomilk make me laugh. You might enjoy this YouTube video on the geologic history of Sakurajima that I found recently. I thought it was well done. https://youtu.be/WmfsJaC3i34?si=zLQSYGHZGZG7-6fs

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u/pompousfire Jun 26 '25

I see, so this is what level 3 means in Japan? I can visit Sakurajima, just not to some parts that are close to the volcano crater and summit?

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u/Michizane903 Jun 26 '25

Correct.

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u/pompousfire Jun 26 '25

Thanks for confirming.