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KYUSHUKyushu.htmlKyushu.htmlshapeimage_17_link_0

For suggestions on how to continue your journey, see Alternatives.

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Journey's end: Kagoshima, the southernmost largest city on the main Japanese isles. The city is dominated by one of the world's most picturesque active volcanos: Sakurajima, literally "cherry (blossom) island"... even though it's not really an island any more, since a major eruption connected it to the eastern mainland. A plume of smoke rises constantly from the peak, as if to remind residents that it's only a matter of time until the next eruption (the last major one was in 1914). As an added inducement to budget-conscious cyclists to explore the place, the youth hostel is located on the quasi-island itself. The view you see above is from the ferry, midway between the mainland and Sakurajima.

There are bikepaths or roads around the entire circumference of Sakurajima, offering some great scenery... and some unintentional humor: one sign says, in all seriousness, "In the event of volcanic eruption or landslide, road closed." Duh... There's also a hot springs on the south shore, supposedly offering "seaside bath in lava holes." It's worth getting up early or planning an extra day to cycle around the island and see a bit of Kagoshima before heading to the station for the long train ride home or ferry ride to your next destination.