Port Pick-up: Kagoshima Private Tour Certified Guide & Vehicle
cost
From 149,940 yen per person
Note *1: The above prices are in Japan. Please select your country and currency when applying and confirm the cost.
overview
This tour is aimed at travelers visiting Kagoshima by cruise ship. We will pick you up at Marine Port Kagoshima or a hotel near the port. Enjoy a great deal of sightseeing in Kagoshima with an experienced, government-certified English-speaking tour guide! *1: Select must-see spots from the list in the tour information and create a customized itinerary. *2: The National Licensed Guide-Interpreter is a qualification issued by the Japanese government and requires a thorough knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Note*1: Please select your desired tourist spots from the list in the tour information and create your own itinerary.
Note *2: To obtain the nationally certified guide-interpreter qualification issued by the Japanese government, you must have sufficient knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
What's Included
- English guide
- Customizable tour: choose 4-5 sites from your "To Do" list
- car
- Entrance fee, lunch fee, other personal expenses
- Ferry fare to Sakurajima
- Multiple tour groups cannot be combined.
- Guide admission fees only cover the attractions listed under "What to Expect."
itinerary
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1
Senganen
Sengan-en (Sengan-en), also known as Ote-tei, is a Japanese garden located along the coast north of downtown Kagoshima. One of the garden's most notable features is its use of Sakurajima and Kagoshima Bay as borrowed scenery. The garden also features a small pond, a stream, a shrine, and a bamboo grove. Sengan-en was built in 1658 by the wealthy Shimazu clan, one of the most powerful feudal clans during the Edo period (1603-1867). The Shimazu ruled the Tokugawa domain (present-day Kagoshima) for nearly 700 years, until the end of the feudal era in 1868. They continued to influence the modern era as some of the early adopters of Western science and technology.
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2
Reimeikan
Reimeikan is dedicated to local history and culture. Its three spacious floors house a variety of exhibits covering Kagoshima's history from ancient times to the present day. There are several interesting models, including a large diorama of downtown Kagoshima in the early Showa period (1926-1989) and a model of a small medieval village. The museum is built on the former site of a local castle known as Kagoshima or Tsurumaru Castle, and is surrounded by a portion of the old moat and stone walls. The museum and castle ruins are located at the foot of Shiroyama, which literally means "Castle Mountain" in Japanese. There are several other museums and cultural sites near the museum. One of the most popular is the statue of Saigo Takamori, a local hero and leader of the Meiji Restoration in the late 1860s. Saigo is believed to have died in the Battle of Shiroyama.
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3
Terukuni Shrine
Located at the foot of Mount Shiroyama, Terukuni Shrine commemorates the spirit of Shimazu Narikira, the 28th head of the Shimazu clan. Built in the mid-18th century, visitors are sure to be impressed by its scale. Visitors to the shrine can witness Japanese weddings, and an event called Rokugatsu-gyo, held every July, sees lanterns lined up around the shrine grounds—a must-see if you're in Kagoshima in the summer.
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4
Statue of Saigo Takamori
Located a 10-minute walk from Terukuni Shrine, the statue of Saigo Takamori is dedicated to the man who led Japan into the modern era. Erected in the man's hometown 50 years after his death, this impressive statue soars 8 meters into the sky. The bronze statue was sculpted by the same artist who created the famous Hachiko statue at Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Saigo's menacing presence in military uniform is made even more imposing by the towering mountains behind him.
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5
Tsurumaru Castle
Kagoshima Castle (Tsurumaru Castle Ruins) sits on the edge of town, where the town's castle once stood proudly. Originally known as Tsurumaru Castle, it was built in 1602 and burned down in 1873, but its stone walls and moat remain as a reminder of the power of the Shimazu clan. Also on the castle grounds is a statue of Princess Amaterasuoin, and the castle ruins are home to historical documents and artifacts, making it a must-see for history buffs.
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6
Ishibashi Memorial Park
Ishibashi Park is a park in Kagoshima City. The park is home to the Ishibashi Memorial Museum, a museum showcasing the history and construction techniques of stone bridges constructed during the Edo period along the stream that runs through the center of the city. Of these bridges, the largest of the three remaining structures is Nishida Bridge, which was used by locals for 150 years before it was eventually moved. The area under the bridge is now open to children to play, and is a beloved place for locals to rest and relax.
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7
Xavier Park
Francis Xavier, a Jesuit friar known for traveling to Japan to spread the word of Christianity and introduce foreign cultures, is said to have arrived in Japan in 1549 and lived in Kagoshima for nearly a year. Xavier Park was established to mark the 400th anniversary of the friar's arrival in Japan and features a statue and commemorative plaque of the friar himself. Incidentally, a Christian church was built in the town's Terukunicho district during the Meiji period and named after him. This church was lost during the war, but parts of the church and a rebuilt version still exist today.
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8
Meiji Restoration Hometown Museum
In 1868, the Tokugawa Shogunate, which had ruled the country for over 250 years, was overthrown, paving the way for the formation of the Meiji government. The period from the fall of the Tokugawa to the rise of the Meiji government is known as the Meiji Restoration. One particular region that played a key role in the Meiji Restoration was Kagoshima itself. The Meiji Restoration Museum commemorates the achievements of the Kagoshima people and is a must-see for history buffs interested in diving into the conflicts that occurred as Japan entered the modern era. Inside the museum, visitors can experience films, dioramas, and even robots and other high-tech exhibits. In the Restoration Experience Hall on the first floor, visitors can also watch a performance featuring robots of two of the city's most important figures, Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi.
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9
Sakurajima
Sakurajima (Sakurajima) is an active volcano located in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture. The volcano constantly emits smoke, often with multiple small eruptions per day. Located in the center of Kagoshima Bay, Sakurajima is the most prominent feature in the area, with an elevation of 1,117 meters and a circumference of approximately 50 kilometers. Prior to its major eruption in 1914 (Taisho 3), Sakurajima was an island within the bay, but the resulting large lava flow created a volcano connected to the present-day Osumi Peninsula to the east. However, for the majority of travelers, the easiest way to access the volcano remains the 3.5-kilometer ferry service between Kagoshima Port and the Sakurajima Ferry Terminal.