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Phuong Nguyen
The Vietnam Airlines plane gently banked in the sky, gradually descending to land at Fukuoka Airport on a bright autumn morning. The season’s chill helped us to shake off our sleepiness, leaving us excited to explore Kagoshima, the distinctive region at the southern tip of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Fascinating geography and nature
Kagoshima occupies an intriguing geographic location, at the southernmost point of the Japanese mainland, which extends from Hokkaido down to this region. Beyond Kagoshima lies Okinawa, an offshore archipelago. Thanks to its strategic position, Kagoshima played a crucial role in Japan’s history and rapid development following the Meiji Restoration. Like Nagasaki, thanks to its major ports, Kagoshima has a long history of foreign trade. This has resulted in a unique syncretic culture, reflected through the area’s architecture, arts, and cuisine.
The historical sites scattered throughout Kagoshima City attest to this region’s glorious past and turbulent history. In the city center stands Tsurumaru Castle, linked to the reign of the Shimazu clan. Built in the early 17th century under the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tsurumaru Castle is a must for history-buffs, as is Terukuni Shrine.
For our group, Kagoshima held additional significance: it is home to the southernmost station of Japan’s high-speed rail network, the Shinkansen. From this point, you can board a Shinkansen train and travel across Japan, reaching the northernmost station, Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto in Hokkaido, over 2,200 km away. Crossing a complex landscape of mountains and islands, this high-speed rail line is an engineering marvel that has contributed to Japan’s emergence as a global superpower.
Leaving the peaceful city center, we headed toward a symbol of Kagoshima – Mount Sakurajima. This active volcano lies about a 15-minute ferry ride from Kagoshima Port. Under clear skies, we had the chance to admire the bay’s scenery and the bustling port area before reaching Yunohira Observatory, which offered sweeping views of majestic Mount Sakurajima. Of course, we visited when the volcano was quiet, peaceful, and safe.
Enjoying refined cuisine
Having visited the Kyushu region many times, I have always been captivated by the rich, spirited yet refined cuisine of Japan’s South, with Kagoshima a prime example. Visitors will notice similarities between Kagoshima’s cuisine and that of southern regions of South Korea, as Kagoshima is also famous for its black pork and fragrant shochu liquor.
Kurobuta is a specialty pork from Kagoshima, made from Berkshire pigs. Renowned for its luscious, fatty flavor, this meat is transformed into a wide variety of dishes, including tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlets) and shabu-shabu (pork hot pot). These dishes are often paired with sweet and sour pickled daikon radishes. Daikon radishes are another local specialty, grown by local farmers on volcanic ash. Visitors to Kagoshima should also try Keihan – a traditional chicken dish made of white rice, shredded chicken, local vegetables, and a delicious chicken broth.
During our stay in Kagoshima, we fell in love with the flavor of the local shochu. Upon inquiry, we learned that this liquor is distilled from sweet potatoes, or imo. With the expertise built up over many generations, this traditional shochu is one of Japan’s most special liquors, with a bold and fragrant taste.
On our final evening in Kagoshima, we enjoyed some musical pieces played on the Satsuma Biwa, a traditional lute from this region. The venue’s cozy atmosphere, some rich and aromatic liquor, and the soothing music formed the perfect ending of our short but meaningful travel experience.
We left Japan with memories of a peaceful land that played a crucial role in Japan’s recent history. Kagoshima is steeped in volcanic strength, southern spirit, and the openness of a region with a long history of foreign trade.
