Japan Drive Route Guide

This day you can enjoy day trip from Kagoshima city. You can relax traveling today because the travel distance is only about 120km and you do not need to pack your luggage. It is recommended to travel in a clock wise direction around the Kagoshima bay. In the morning, let's drive up to the Shiroyama Park Observation Deck(城山公園展望台) in Kagoshima city to see the famous active volcano Sakurajima(桜島), the symbol of Kagoshima. The main highlight of this day has to be Senganen Garden(仙巌園). There is the house of the Shimazu family who strongly contributed to the Japan modernization and you can enjoy an idyllic Sakurajima view from their beautiful garden. After that, let's stop by the Tsubobatake(坂元のくろず壺畑情報館) where black vinegar has been produced in a traditional way for more than 200 years. Today's recommended lunch is at ambejack fish restaurant. Our daily driving map will guide you directly to some secret fisherman's restaurants which are unknown by foreign tourists. Then, let' s drive to Yunohira Observatory(湯之平展望所) at the bottom of Sakurajima. You can take the Sakurajima Ferry from Sakurajima to Kagoshia. It is a 15min cruise. They are operating 70 cruises, 24/24 hours and you don’t need to make reservation. We will let you know how to take it with our driving map. In addition, be sure to visit the amazing azelea places in spring and some colored Ginkgo trees forests. If you travel in spring or autumn, our daily driving map will guide you directly to these spots. It is really worth seeing them so please make it your priority visit these spots.

This journey will take you from Kagoshima to Ibusuki. You can have a relaxing day because the travel distance is only about 90km. In the morning, let's drive to the Senganen Garden(仙巌園). Here there is the house of the Shimazu family who strongly contributed to the Japan modernization and from here you can enjoy an idyllic Sakurajima view from their beautiful garden. The main highlight of this day The main highlight of this day has to be the Chiran Samurai House District (知覧武家屋敷) which is listed as a preserved district, which has traditional buildings with a strong 270 years of history. You can enjoy walking through 7 Samurai houses with beautiful Japanese gardens. You also can have a delicious lunch and tea in this town. Our driving map will guide you directly to some Japanese restaurants within Samurai houses and famous English tea houses. After lunch, the Chiran Peace Museum(知覧特攻平和会館) is worth stopping by. This is a museum dedicated to the young men who were chosen to become Kamikaze (suicidal attack) pilots. If you still have time, it is recommended to drop off at Mt. Onodake Park(大野岳公園). From the observatory visitors can see a panoramic view of Mt. Kaimondake and the tea plantations spread out all around the area. Ibusuki is nationally famous for its sand bathes. It is recommended to reach your inn early so that you can enjoy it and an Onsen as well. If you don't stay at an inn with a sand bath facility, you also can go to a one-day sand bath. In addition, be sure that there are amazing cherry blossom and rape blossom places on this route in spring. If you will travel in this period, our daily driving map will guide you directly to these spots. It is really worth seeing them so please make it your priority to visit there.

This day will head from Ibusuki to Kagoshima. You can relax this day because mileage is about 120km only. If you haven't try sand bath, let's go to one day sand bath first. Then, first destination is "Cape Nagasakibana(長崎鼻)" which is located the most sourthernmost Satsuma Peninsula. You can enjoy the sight of the majestic Mt.Kaimondake. You also can stop by "Flower Park Kagoshima(フラワーパークかごしま)" near there. Then, let's casing to Makurazaki(枕崎) city which is city of Bonito fish and traditional distilled liquor Shochu. It is recommended to visit fish market "Makurazaki Osakana Center(枕崎お魚センター)". You can buy their speciality Katsuobushi(dried bonito) there. It is also recommended to eat very fresh bonito as lunch. After that you also can visit "Satsuma Shuzo Distillery Meijigura(薩摩酒造蒸溜所 明治蔵)". It is one of the biggest Shochu distillery and worth to visit. After that, you can drive to Kagoshima city. This area is also well-known as green tea plantation area and you can enjoy driving through green tea farm. We also let you know a secret spot overlooking the magnificent green tea plantations. In addition, there are many flower spots of cherry blossom, azelea and rape blossom in spring and great sand sculputure festival in May. If you will travel in this period, our daily driving map will guide you these spots. It is really worth to see and please priority there.