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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Izumi
出水
Spend a half‑day in Izumi to see the crane habitat (mid‑Oct to Mar) and a quick walk through the historic Izumifumoto district.
Izumi, north‑west Kagoshima, is a small city (≈52 000 people) best visited for its winter crane migration and preserved samurai‑era streets. A morning visit covers the main sights; an overnight stay is only needed if you want to explore surrounding nature walks.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 出水
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (crane season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heat, few cranes)
- Stay
- 0.5 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ¥300–500 |
| Bento box | ¥600–1,200 |
| Local sake (180 ml) | ¥400–800 |
| Bus ride within city | ¥200–300 |
| Crane habitat entry | ¥500–1,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KOJ · Kagoshima Airport
- ≈1½ h by bus or shuttle to city centre
- KMJ · Aso Kumamoto Airport
- ≈1½ h via Kyushu Shinkansen + bus
Typical fares
- Kyushu Shinkansen Izumi ↔ Kagoshima
- about ¥8,000–12,000 reserved, 45 min (check)
- Izumi Bus day pass
- ¥1,200 per person
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
JR Kyushu Shinkansen stops at Izumi Station; local Izumi Fureai Bus departs from the station. Hisatsu Orange Railway serves nearby stations for coastal trips.
See and do
Known for
- Izumi Crane Habitat
- Izumifumoto historic district
- Kashikuri Shrine
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Satsumasendai | JR Kyushu local train from Izumi Station, about 30 min | ≈45 min |
| Akune | Nankoku Kotsu bus from Izumi Bus Center, about 1 h | ≈1 h 15 min |
| Minamata | JR Kyushu train to Minamata, about 1 h | ≈1 h 20 min |
| Ichikikushikino | Hisatsu Orange Railway to Ichikikushikino, about 45 min | ≈1 h |
| Hioki | Nankoku Kotsu bus from Izumi Bus Center, about 40 min | ≈55 min |
Sleep
- Izumi Station area
- Convenient for bus and train; good for one night if you catch early shinkansen.
- Historic Izumifumoto inns
- Traditional ryokan style; limited rooms, book ahead.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the crane habitat? | クレーンの生息地はどこですか？kurēn no seikokuchi wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Last Shinkansen to Kagoshima departs around 22:30; plan return accordingly.
- Crane habitat entry may be restricted in extreme weather; check the official site.
Izumi is a low‑risk city; main concerns are traffic on rural roads and seasonal weather affecting bus schedules.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Izumi yet. Suggested stay: 0.5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Izumi Crane Habitat
- Izumifumoto historic district
- Kashikuri Shrine
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Izumi official multilingual guide: www.izumi-navi.jp/
- City of Izumi (Wikidata): www.city.kagoshima-izumi.lg.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Izumi, revision 4875768 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4875768
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/izumi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.