Sakurajima Ferry - Safe, Comfortable 15-minute Cruise

Magnificent, Heartbeat Mt.Sakurajima

Mt.Sakurajima, which is enshrined sedately on a deep-blue bay called "Kinko wan", is one of the greatest active volcanoes in the world, once it erupts, it is as if the eruption burnt the sky black.
So what's the fascination with Mt.Sakurajima, which stands only about 4 km from the downtown area?

STRUCTURE

A long time ago, before Mt.Sakurajima had a major eruption, there used to be a huge hole in kinko-wan.
The hole was called the "Aira-caldera" and was formed by a major eruption about 29,000 years ago.
From the eruption, a large amount of magma was released and filled all of the southern area of Kyusyu.
After that, a mountain, which was formed by another major eruption in southern area of Aira-caldera about 26,000 years ago, is Mt.Sakurajima.
Therefore Mt.Sakurajima is like a child of Aira-caldera.

HISTORY

The history of Mt.Sakurajima is said to be the history of eruptions, and Mt.Sakurajima is an active volcano which has been often erupting.
The activity of Mt.Sakurajima is classified into two time periods.
The first period from about 26,000 years ago up to about 5,000 years ago is the activity of "Kita-dake" ( Northern Sakurajima ), and the second period from about 4,500 years ago up to present is the activity of "Minami-dake" ( Southern Sakurajima ).
Especially, by a major eruption in 1914 ( in Taisho 3 ) an area of 9.2 km2 was covered with the erupted lava, and the lava flow reached to the sea in the east and southeast of Mt.Sakurajima. Therefore Mt. Sakurajima and the Osumi peninsula were connected by the lava.

NATURE

Around Mt.Sakurajima which is surrounded by a calm sea, people can enjoy sea kayaking all through the year and can experience typical nature like the "ban yan tree", because of a the warm climate.
Moreover the area along the coastline is maintained for walking beside the lava area and for fishing, where residents can relax and enjoy themselves. Also enjoying the hot springs are a part of their lives, as they gush out from Mt.Sakurajima.

FOOD

As for local specialty products, the heaviest Japanese radish in the world, "Sakurajima-Daikon", like a large turnip, and the smallest tangerine in the world, "Sakurajima-Komikan", are very famous.
"Buri-Daikon", which is Sakurajima-Daikon boiled with the jaw meat of "Kan-Buri", a fatty, winter yellowtail caught in Kagoshima, is also one of the local dishes.

LITERATURE

Fumiko Hayashi:

She is a famous author of many masterpieces such as UKIGUMO.
She spent her early life in the Furusato hot spring village and lived there until she was six.

Her best works: "UKIGUMO". "HOROKI"

Haruo Umesaki:

The author of the novel "SAKURAJIMA". It's written about episodes in Sakurajima where he started his new post during the war.

His best works: "SAKURAJIMA", "GENKA"

YORIMICHI CRUISE ( optional cruise )

Days of Operation:

7 days a week (except from December 29 to January 3)

Course:

Kagoshima port ⇒ Kamise ⇒
Taisho yogangen oki (Taisho Offshore Lava) ⇒ Sakurajima port.

Travel time:

about 50 minutes

Departure time:

11:10 A.M.

Fare:

600 yen (Adult), 300 yen (child)
1,810 yen (vehicle under 3~4 meters)

NOTE:

Tickets are only valid from Kagoshima port to Sakurajima port (travel time 50 minutes).
Please show your ticket at Sakurajima port window.
When returning to Kagoshima port, please pay the fare (one-way 200 yen).

Kagoshima-shi Senpaku-kyoku (Kagoshima City, Shipping Department)

891-1419 61-4 Sakurajima yokoyamacho Kagoshima city, Kagoshima
Phone:+81-99-293-2525 Fax:099-293-2972

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Kagoshima-ko josenken hatsubaijo (Kagoshima Port Ticket Office)

892-0814 4-1 Honko shinmachi Kagoshima City, Kagoshima
Phone:+81-99-223-7271