Kirishima City, Japan
Kirishima City is located in Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. It lies on the north side of Kagoshima Bay, at the junction of the Satsuma and Osumi Peninsulas, bordering Miyazaki Prefecture.
Kirishima City has many tourist attractions worth visiting. Here are some of the main ones:
History and Culture
- Kirishima Shrine: The largest shrine in southern Kyushu, it was built in the 6th century and has a rich cultural heritage and ancient history. It enshrines Ninigi-no-Mikoto, the central figure in Japan's founding myths. The shrine has a giant sacred tree that is 800 years old. The architecture is mainly vermilion, with red-lacquered, gold-topped beams and pillars, brightly colored reliefs, and the largest torii gate in western Japan, allowing visitors to experience a rich, classical Japanese style.
- Kareigawa Station: The oldest station in Kyushu, it is also an unmanned station still in use today, having started operations in 1903. The station is a wooden structure, with a wooden ticket window, waiting area, and old benches, all full of history. The JR Kyushu limited express train "Hayato no Kaze" stops here, attracting many photography enthusiasts.
Natural Scenery
- Kirishima Onsen: Located in northern Kagoshima, Kirishima's hot springs gush from mountains at altitudes of 1,500-1,700 meters. It includes "Kirishima Onsenkyo" and "Kirishima Jingu Onsenkyo," and is a nationally famous hot spring resort in Japan. In autumn, you can enjoy the double charm of hot springs and red leaves.
- Onami Pond: Located at an altitude of 1,411 meters, Onami Pond sits at an elevation of 1,240 meters on Mount Kirishima. It has a diameter of 630 meters and a depth of 11 meters, and was formed 40,000 years ago due to volcanic activity on Mount Kirishima. In autumn and winter, you can admire the maple leaves. Standing on the well-maintained hiking trail, you can overlook the spectacular crater lake, making it easy for even novice hikers to reach the summit.
- Mount Takachiho: Located on the border of Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, the Takachiho River Gorge Visitor Center at the foot of the mountain has a wealth of information, including terrain models. The mountain slopes have terraced rice paddies and tea fields, and the mountainside is a reddish-brown cliff face. The color of the peak varies at different times of the day.
- Maruo Waterfall: Fed by the upstream Rinda Onsen and Iou-dani Onsen, Maruo is a hot spring waterfall. The waterfall emits steam, and the water strands form columnar textures on the cliff face after the sulfur lava cools. When lit up at night, the light is softened by the water mist, giving the waterfall a captivating charm.
Art and Leisure
- Kirishima Open-Air Museum: Built on the Kirishima mountain range at an altitude of 700 meters, this art museum covers an area of 130,000 square meters. It is a huge outdoor showplace, making use of lawns, forests, and waterfalls, and harmonizing with the abundant sunlight of the south. The museum features works by artists such as Yayoi Kusama.
- Kakujida: Japan's first black vinegar restaurant, it is a comprehensive facility where you can enjoy food, tour the production process, and shop. The restaurant's own farm grows organic vegetables, and there is a black vinegar lunch made with seafood from Kagoshima Bay, Kagoshima black pork, and Japanese Black beef. You can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Tsubota and Sakurajima.