Major city · Japan
Kagoshima鹿児島
Give Kagoshima 2 nights: one full day for Sakurajima and Sengan-en, one for the city, then push south to Ibusuki or the islands.
Kagoshima is the southern end of the Kyushu Shinkansen and the launch pad for Sakurajima, Yakushima and the sand baths at Ibusuki. The volcano sits across a 15-minute ferry ride and dusts the city with ash most weeks. Two nights covers the core; three or more only if you add islands.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jun–Sep (rainy season, typhoons, heat), Golden Week
- Airport
- KOJ
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Kagoshima110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kagoshima, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyKagoshima is a calm, low-crime city; the real risks are volcanic ash, summer heat and typhoons that cancel island ferries.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportKOJ Kagoshima Airport (In Kirishima, about 1 h by bus to Kagoshima-Chūō station; buses run roughly every 10 minutes).
- Getting aroundTrams (lines 1 and 2) cover the centre for a flat ¥170 (≈ US$2) per ride, pay on exit; IC cards work poorly…
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Metro or bus rideTram ride¥170 (≈ US$2)
- Museum or sight ticketSengan-en garden entry¥1,600 (≈ US$11) adults
- Budget bedHostel or capsule bed, a night, per person¥3,000 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥14,000 (≈ US$95)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥32,000 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥7,000 (≈ US$50) · Mid ¥13,000 (≈ US$90) · High ¥25,000 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KOJ Kagoshima Airport (In Kirishima, about 1 h by bus to Kagoshima-Chūō station; buses run roughly every 10 minutes)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Feb
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Mar
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Apr
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
May
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jun
Avoid
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Nov
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Dec
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest Jun (15 rain days), driest Oct (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kagoshima: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
9 rd
Feb
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
9 rd
Mar
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
11 rd
Apr
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
10 rd
May
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
11 rd
Jun
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
15 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
12 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11 rd
Oct
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8 rd
Nov
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Dec
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
8 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Trams (lines 1 and 2) cover the centre for a flat ¥170 per ride, pay on exit; IC cards work poorly, so carry coins or buy a RapiCa card at the station. City buses cost about ¥150. The Sakurajima ferry runs around the clock, about 15 min each way.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Sakurajima
goDoor to door: About 30 min to the island
Ferry from Kagoshima port, 15 min, then the Island View loop bus
Ferry ¥250 each way, bus day pass ¥500; the loop bus runs 09:30–17:25 and only every other bus reaches the Sabo Center.Ferry ¥250 each way, bus day pass ¥500; the loop bus runs 9:30 AM–5:25 PM and only every other bus reaches the Sabo Center.
Ibusuki
goDoor to door: About 1.25 h
JR Ibusuki-Makurazaki line from Kagoshima-Chūō, about 1 h
Sand bath (sunamushi) on the beach; a half-day or an overnight.
Yakushima
overnightDoor to door: 3–4.5 h
Hydrofoil from Kagoshima port, 2–3 h, or ferry about 4 h
Too far for a day return; sleep on the island.
Tanegashima
overnightDoor to door: About 2.5 h
Hydrofoil from Kagoshima port, under 2 h
Space centre and long beaches; needs a night.
Kirishima
cautionDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
JR to Kirishima-Jingū, then bus, or bus from the airport
Shrines and volcanic hikes; check bus times before committing.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Kagoshima-Chūō station area
Shinkansen, tram line 2 and Amu Plaza under one roof; best for one-night stops and early departures.
Tenmonkan
Shopping arcade, bars and restaurants; tram line 1 to Kagoshima station, about 10 min from Chūō.
Waterfront / Kinkō Bay
Aquarium and the Sakurajima ferry terminal on foot; quiet at night.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥7,000–11,000 (≈ US$50–75) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥11,000–18,000 (≈ US$75–130) excl. bed
- High
- ¥18,000 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 2 nights × ¥14,000 | ¥28,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ¥13,000 | ¥52,000 |
| Airport bus KOJ ↔ Kagoshima-Chūō, both ways2 × ¥3,000 | ¥6,000 |
| Sakurajima ferry, return2 × ¥500 | ¥1,000 |
| Island View bus day pass2 × ¥500 | ¥1,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥9,300 |
| Trip total≈ ¥25,580 per person per day, bed included | ¥102,300≈ US$700 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Tram ride | ¥170 (≈ US$2) |
| City bus ride | about ¥150 (≈ US$2) (check) |
| Sakurajima ferry, one way | ¥250 (≈ US$2) |
| Sengan-en garden entry | ¥1,600 (≈ US$11) adults |
| Museum of the Meiji Restoration | ¥300 (≈ US$3) adults, ¥150 (≈ US$2) children |
| Kagoshima City Aquarium | ¥1,500 (≈ US$11) adults (check) |
| Bowl of shochu or a shochu flight in Tenmonkan | ¥500–1,500 (≈ US$4–11) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Volcanic ash falls most weeks: keep a mask or cloth for your face and don't wear white.
- Tourists are forbidden within 2 km (1.2 mi) of the Sakurajima crater; check the current alert level before you go.Tourists are forbidden within 1.2 mi (2 km) of the Sakurajima crater; check the current alert level before you go.
- Two central stations: Kagoshima (north, older) and Kagoshima-Chūō (Shinkansen). Most trips use Chūō.
- Typhoon season Jun–Sep can cancel ferries to Yakushima and Tanegashima; keep a buffer day.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
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Kagoshima鹿児島
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
Embassy
No embassies in Kagoshima; the US has a consulate in Fukuoka, and most countries keep embassies in Tokyo.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport bus KOJ → Kagoshima-Chūō: about ¥1,500 (≈ US$11), about 1 h
- Sakurajima ferry, one way: ¥250 (≈ US$2), about 15 min
- Shinkansen Kagoshima-Chūō → Hakata: from about ¥11,420 (≈ US$80), from 80 min
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Trams take coins or the local RapiCa card; Tokyo IC cards often fail here.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kagoshima. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Sep (rainy season, typhoons, heat), Golden Week · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for KOJ: last bus times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Kagoshima-Chūō, Tenmonkan, the waterfront and ferry terminal, Sengan-en and Iso.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Sengan-en, Reimeikan, Museum of the Meiji Restoration, aquarium) and eat pages with last orders.
- Volcano and typhoon fixtures so gates A–D can go green.