Travel Guide of Scenic Byway Kyushu Q-❻ Kagoshima Scenic Byways Cities of Kagoshima, Ibusuki, MinamiKyushu, MinamiSatsuma, and Makurazaki （Kagoshima Pref.）—Active Volcano, Shirasu Plateau & Sub-tropical Zone, Leading Activities toward Meiji Era ― Kagoshima Prefecture in the southern Kyushu has Kagoshima Bay in the center. In addition, the Osumi Peninsula is located on the east side of the bay, and the Satsuma Peninsula, on the west side. Under such terrain conditions, areas related to Kagoshima Scenic Byways extends from Sakurajima in the bay to the southern part of the Satsuma Peninsula. As shown in the map, it is composed of five cities: Kagoshima, Minami-Kyushu, Ibusuki, Makurazaki, and Minami-satsuma, and belongs to the Kirishima Kinkowan National Park in the subtropical region. (Note: “Kinkowan” is another name for Kagoshima Bay). The most important resource common to the entire Kagoshima Scenic Byway is the active volcano lined up at the Kyushu Volcano Front, that extends from Kagoshima Bay. Hot water gushes from the submarine volcano “Wakamiko” in the back of the bay, and bubbles sometimes appear. In addition, steam smoke from Sakurajima volcano can be seen almost every day. The average number of eruptions in the last 10 years is about 590 times a year. We are often amazed by the sound of explosion and bothered by the fall of volcanic ash (see the right Photo (1)). Q-❻ Map of Kagoshima Scenic Byways Mt. Kaimon-dake is located at the entrance of the bay, and the crater at the summit is covered like a hat by the second eruption at the end of the 9th century and looks like Mt. Fuji (see Photo (4)). Interest in volcanoes lies not only in the eruption but also in its blessings. You can get many benefits such as Sakurajima's radish, Satsuma small orange, industrial products made of volcanic ash, and hot springs. The locals are also called "Satsuma Hayato" and the eruption has helped strengthen their spirit. It is very interesting to experience the (1) & (2) Sakurajima (left) seen in Kagoshima City, and Kagoshima Bay lives of the locals, thinking about what it means to live in a volcanic area that looks more attractive than dangerous. Kagoshima Main Line, Nippo Main Line, and Ibusuki-Makurazaki [Access] Kagoshima Airport is a base for access to the scenic route Line, and you can also access the major cities in the southern area of Kagoshima, and has six international routes to Korea, China, of the prefecture by a railway. and Taiwan. In addition, there are 17 domestic lines, 8 of which are Kyushu Expressway and Minami-Kyushu Expressway are tied in served to Okinawa and the southern islands in the prefecture. the center of Kagoshima City. Therefore, you can access various The terminal station on the Kyushu Shinkansen is Kagoshima- scenic spots smoothly. Chuo Station, which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes from Hakata [Main Route of Landscape Area] When dividing the main Station (Fukuoka). Kagoshima-Chuo Station is connected to the landscape road area into north and south at JR Kagoshima Chuo 1 (1) Sakurajima Raising the Plume. (1) Torii (Shrine’s Gate) buried in Volcanic Ash. Shirasu plateau (Hioki City) (3) Street of Samurai Residence and Japanese Style of Garden in the Chiran Fumoto Town of Minami-Kyuhsu City. Station, the main routes in the north are as follows. In other words, In short, as you drive along the coastline, you’ll come across as shown in the map, you will go around Sakurajima on National distinctive landscapes such as plateaus that develop on the cracked Route 224 and Prefectural Road 26, and then take a ferry from cliffs, and arched white beaches as in the Photo above. Sakurajima Port to Kagoshima Port in the center of Kagoshima (B) Historical Heritage of Shimazu Clan. City. After that, the main routes in the city are National Route 10 From the Kamakura period to the Edo period (12th to 19th and Prefectural Road 21 that connect to Kagoshima Chuo Station, centuries), Shimazu Clan ruled a vast territory in Kagoshima and trams run on them. Prefecture and southern area of Miyazaki Prefecture. Therefore, in On the other hand, there are National Roades 225 and 226 at the the Edo period (17th~19th century), a samurai system was main areas of the Satsuma Peninsula, which are complemented by established that was not necessary concentrated in the castle town the Ibusuki Skyline Moterway. In addition, the prefecture roads on of Kagoshima, even under the law of "one castle in one country". the peninsula are well maintained, so you can enjoy comfortable This was different from other feudal clan. driving in the countryside. Bus routes running on National Roads In other words, while there were samurai who lived in the castle 226 and 225, and the JR Kyushu Ibusuki / Makurazaki Line which town and served in the castle, there were also samurai who usually is parallel to National Road 226, are available in the coastline area. engaged in agriculture and served as soldiers in an emergency. The [Regional Resources] One of the local scenic resources is the special latter samurai, who lived in rural areas, served as both samurai geological structure of the Kagoshima region, where the active and peasants, and were called "Goshi" in Japanese (See Q-⓮). volcanoes of Kagoshima Bay and the plateau of "Shirasu" soil The total of these two types of samurai reached about 40% of the spread (A). In addition, the historical heritage of Shimazu clan (B), total population of the Kagoshima domain. The financial situation and the footsteps of the youths in the Meiji Restoration ages (C) are of the clan was bad, because it was difficult to grow rice on the much interesting. Shirasu soil, and there were many typhoons and volcanoes, and (A) Bay and Shirasu Plateau made of Volcanic Eruption. many disasters occurred. In addition, since the Kagoshima area is Kagoshima Bay and its surroundings were rifts in the earth in located at the southern tip of the country, it was necessary to the ancient times and had a lot of volcanic activities. At that time, strictly defend the entire area. These were the reasons for devising the Aira caldera was formed in the back of the bay, the north Ata a unique samurai system. In this unique Samurai society, the caldera in the center, and the south Ata caldera at the mouth of the village where Samurai and their families lived was called "Fumoto" bay, and seawater flowed into it, and created a bay (see Photo (2)). (see Photo (3)). Sakurajima in the back of the bay was originally an island, but (C) Leading Activities in the Meiji Era the eruption of 1914 connected it to the Osumi Peninsula, and the In the radical political changes from the Edo period to the Meiji current Kagoshima Bay was born. Excluding the waterway on the period (19th century to 20th century), Satsuma produced people west side of Sakurajima and the mouth of the bay, the average who played a more important role than other regions. depth of the bay is about 130m. Shimazu Nariakira (11th feudal lord of the Shimazu clan) On the other hand, due to various volcanic activities covering promoted measures to strengthen the wealth and military power Satsuma and Osumi Peninsula, a large amount of pyroclastic flow of the clan. In particular, after Anglo-Satsuma War in 1863, various was ejected, forming the Shirasu plateau widely. The slopes of this industries such as shipbuilding and machinery have been Shirasu plateau form cliffs of about 20 to 100 meters and can be modernized, and their heritage has been registered as a World seen everywhere as shown in above Photo. Cultural Heritage “Meiji Japanese Industrial Revolution Heritage”. Crashed Shirasu sand flowed into the sea and was washed up on the coast, creating a beautiful long arched beach. In particular, the Based on the above resources and their distribution, Kagoshima arched coast on the west side of Satsuma Peninsula is 47 km long scenic cityscape can be divided into five blocks (see the map). and is called “Fukiage-Hama (beach)”. (1) Sakurajima Global Geo-park. 2 The ferry from Kagoshima Port in the center of Kagoshima City broke the isolation policy of the Edo Shogunate and studied abroad to Sakurajima Port is used by many residents and tourists, and in England in 1865, under the protection of Shimazu Clan. Most of makes 4 round trips an hour during the daytime. In addition to this them returned to Japan after the Meiji Restoration, gained a high liner, there are also one- or two- hours cruise tours, depending on position in the government, and greatly contributed to the the season. modernization of Japan (see Q-⓮). In 2013, Sakurajima Volcano and Kinko Bay (Kagoshima Bay) b) If you go about 500 meters north from JR Kagoshima-Chuo were listed up to Global Geoparks. As shown in Photos (1), the Station along the tramway, you will find the Kotsuki River. This fascinating spots of Sakurajima are the lava-filled coastline, the riverside town (Kajiya-cyo) was a residential area of lower-ranking submarine volcano, Torii (shrine gate) buried in volcanic ash, and samurai. Many talented people who were deeply involved in the the crater which steam continues to generate. At the foot of the Meiji Restoration have grown up, and related materials are volcano, sightseeing bus tours go around eight times a day. exhibited at the hometown museum of the Meiji Restoration (Ishin- (2) Downtown of Kagoshima City. Furusatokan). It will be very meaningful and effective to look Block (2) is the central urban area of Kagoshima City.