Sakurajima Visitor Center — Attraction in Kagoshima

Visited in mid-July 2025

Only in Sakurajima, the visitor center is located not right at the gateway. It is something like 10-15 minutes away on foot. There's also a tourist bus loop (every 30 minutes) that goes in anti-clockwise direction from the ferry port.

The building looks a bit dated, which makes sense given it bears the brunt of abrasive fine ash all year around. The most interesting for me is the real-time monitoring information of the volcanic and seismic activity fed from the system throughout the island. The visitor center is manned by a bunch of volunteers who are not only knowledgeable but also passionate on what they are doing. Aside from the extensive exhibits, it also boasts a souvenir collection and some supplies for the visitors, including some unique ones like small statues made of the...

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We spent about half an hour browsing the souvenir shop and the exhibits. There are no tickets needed.

There was very comprehensive information about the state of the volcano, how active it has been in the past few years, and both general info about volcanos and how they affect the world around them, and specific information about Sakurajima as a volcano and a home for its people. We found that every time we had a question after reading something (e.g. what is a volcanic earthquake, after reading that they are “still observed under Mt. Fuji even today”), the answer would almost immediately be addressed in the next section (see pic 4). So we thought the exhibition was organised and staged well. Really...

It is slightly dated, though it has a toilet and a souvenir shop. There is also a food kiosk outside that sells hot food, while you can have a soft serve inside.

The exhibits detail how Sakurajima was formed and evolved over the years, and there is an interesting setup showing the constant ongoing eruptions, big or small.

They have a video show, but only at certain hours, and recommend using a QR code to view the same video on youtube.

There is a large park outside, with quite a large running footbath, which was quite fun to use. You can also view the city of Kagoshima across the harbor as well as the...