Precious Memories: Rushing Through Kagoshima

2023 Spring Asia Cruises II - 9-Day Kyushu Spring Flowers Cruise, Roundtrip Yokohama, Japan

March 18, 2023 (Saturday) - Kagoshima, Japan

This is another new port for us, and we all looked forward to be in this city. The problem once again is the transportation. With the expensive shuttles that were provided and limited taxis available outside the cruise terminal, we joined the long line for a couple of taxis to go downtown where we were told to get the all-day passes for our bus ride around the city. The information staff at port told us we can buy the pass at the Tourist Information Office in downtown Tenmonkan area and the taxi ride took a while to get us there. By the time we arrived at the Tourist Information Office, we found out that it was closed because it was Saturday. Fortunately, we figured out (using Google map) that there is a City View Bus station right near the tourist office and we could possibly get the one-day pass on the bus. The City View Bus was exactly what we needed for the day!

After getting on the bus and purchased our passes, we were good to go. It was quite crowded though since it was a Saturday with many locals also going on their weekend trips. Our first destination was the Shiroyama Observation Deck where we could see the whole city and the Sakurajima Volcano across the harbor.

Shiroyama Observation Deck

First glimpse of the Sakurajima Volcano from the Observation Deck.

A vendor on the deck, ice cream is supposedly very good here but we did not try.

One of the memorials at the site.

Care for a photo?

View of the city below and our cruise ship.

Sengan-en

After the photo op and walking around the observation deck, we took the bus back down to our next point of interest--Sengan-en, a huge garden and historical site.

I did not realize that this garden is so big and with so much to see! Now we have to hurry a little so we could see as much as possible. This is definitely a beautiful garden. The old buildings are kept nicely and the garden very neatly. Plus, we had excellent weather. What else can se ask for?

Some of the old buildings.

Just beautiful!

Full view of the volcano, one of the most erupted volcano in the world. It erupted 432 times in 2020.

Not cherry blossom season yet but still very pretty.

If we had time, I would love to have a nice lunch here.

Ferry to Sakurajima

After Sengan-en, we managed to catch the City View Bus again to the ferry station. The line for the bus was long but we all got on with a few people being left behind. On the other hand, the ferry was easy because they operate round the clock for this 15-minute ride every 20 minutes. From the mainland, we just get on the ferry boat and pay the 200Y when we get off on the other side.

The ferry also take cars along.

A very pleasant ferry ride.

Because of the limited time, we just walked around the port area a little bit and visited the park near the ferry station. We were told that to fully enjoy the island one would have to plan a day there.

Looking at the ferries from the park.

Sakurajima Volcano

We were able to catch the ferry before it leaves after getting some Ash Ice Cream (actually just a vanilla ice cream with some black ash looking stuff sprinkled over it) at the station and ended this quick but fun trip to the island.

Kids play room on the ferry.

Snack Bar

We were fortunate to have a couple of taxis waiting at the ferry station when we got off and off we went, back to the cruise port. There was heavy traffic near the port which made us nervous but we got back in time before the all-aboard time. It was good to be back on the ship in one piece after this busy day.