This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel.
Kagoshima, Japan, is situated on the south coast of Kyushu, the most southwesterly of the Japanese Archipelago. The city, with around six hundred thousand inhabitants, is also the capital of Kagoshima Prefecture. The active volcano Sakurajima towers out of the Kagoshima Bay opposite Kagoshima city; it belongs to the most active Japanese volcanoes. Sakurajima regularly drops volcanic ash on the surrounding areas. The volcano is part of the Kirishima-Yaku National Park and a major tourist attraction.
For active tourists, a trip to the famous volcano Sakurajima is a must. Yunohira Lookout is a perfect place to get a good view on the volcano and the harbour of Kagoshima. Shiroyama Park is a small mountain park in the centre of Kogoshima. The name Shyroyama derives from the former use of the location as a castle fortification. Shiroyama Observatory offers a spectacular panorama on the city center of Kagoshima, Kagoshima Bay, and even the volcano Sakurajima. If the sky is clear, it is also very recommendable to visit at night. Tsurumaru Castle was constructed in the beginning of the seventeenth century. The scale is surprisingly small and only the wall as well as the moat are still remaining. This castle is located right next to Shiroyama Park.
The easiest options for getting to Kagoshima are by plane or by train. Kagoshima Airport is around thirty kilometres away from the major railway station in the city centre. There are domestic and international flights available, mainly to other Asian destinations. The high-speed train Kyushu Shinkansen connects the cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu. Trains depart several times per hour from Fukoka, which is the largest city on the island by population. The trip takes around eighty minutes.
There are several Kagoshima, Japan hostels, guesthouses, and hotels available. Generally, the accommodations are well maintained, clean, and the facilities have a good quality. Most places such as Kagoshima, Japan hostels offer free Wi-Fi, as well. The language barrier can make it difficult to find the right way to your accommodation. English is not widely spoken and the Japanese characters can be a problem for Western tourists, as well. Therefore, it is recommendable to plan your stay and the way to your Kagoshima, Japan hostel or hotel well.
Written by local expertz for Kagoshima
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