As of 2024, its official name is Phoenix Seagaia Resort, a name combining “Sea” (the ocean) and “Gaia” (the earth). It is home to the prestigious Phoenix Country Club and Tom Watson Golf Course. The resort also features the Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort, a luxury hotel housed in a 154-meter tower that stands within a vast pine forest.    

Phoenix Seagaia Resort…の続きを読む

  Sakurajima is the symbol of Kagoshima. Smoke and steam rise almost every day from Minamidake, its active volcano. Once an island, it became connected to the Osumi Peninsula during the 1914 eruption, when lava flow filled the channel between them. Visitors can access the island and its observation points by ferry.     Access to Sakurajima   Sakurajima Ferry connects Kagoshima City and Sakurajima in just 15 minutes and operates 24 hours a day.    Kagoshima port  To Sakura-jima Island   Sakura-jima Island   Exploring Sakurajima      Michino eki Sakura-jima Kinko Bay from Sakura-jima Kinko Bay from Sakura-jima          Yunohira Observatory         Yunohira Observatory    Stand at the Observatory     Arimura Lava Observatory             Lava Observatory              Lava Observatory        Lava Observatory        Lava Observatory        Lava Observatory  

Sakurajima travel guide…の続きを読む

  Kurokawa Onsen is the most popular hot spring resort in the Aso region, located on the northern side of Mount Aso. Widely known for its open-air baths, it is one of the best places to experience traditional Japan. Over 20 traditional inns (Ryokan) and gift shops line the Tanoharu River, a headstream of the Chikugo River.     Onsen Tegata With an “Onsen Tegata,” a pass made of cedar wood, travelers can enjoy three different open-air hot springs.            Yukata        Bath        Dinner   Explore the Onsen town     

Kurokawa Onsen…の続きを読む

  As the southernmost major city in Kyushu, Kagoshima offers a stunning view of Sakurajima, an active volcano with smoke and steam rising across Kagoshima Bay. The city prospered as a castle town during the Edo period. Today, Tenmonkan, its largest shopping arcade, is the perfect place to dine on local cuisine—especially succulent meats—and enjoy a vibrant nightlife filled with bars and restaurants.     Where to explore Sengan-en /UNESCO World Heritage Sengan-en is the most famous garden in Kagoshima Prefecture. It was built by a Shimazu lord in the 19th century along the beautiful Kinko Bay. The garden contains many historical artifacts that reflect its long history.   Shoko Shuseikan Modern Industrial Complex   / UNESCO World Heritage The Museum of the Classics, located here, exhibits a variety of objects related to the Shimazu family and the Satsuma domain. The stone building that houses the collection has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, part of the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution   Shiroyama Park The park is most famous for the Shiroyama Observatory, which offers spectacular views of downtown Kagoshima, Kagoshima Bay, and Sakurajima.       Sakurajima Sakurajima is the symbol of Kagoshima. Smoke and steam ri se almost every day from Minamidake, an active volcano. Formerly an island, it became connected to the Osumi Peninsula in 1914 when a massive eruption …

Kagoshima travel guide…の続きを読む