Local Guide
5 recommended sightseeing spots in Kagoshima City and Kirishima for a rainy day

Kagoshima City and the Kirishima area are dotted with attractive indoor spots that can be enjoyed by both adults and children, such as Property where you can Experience picking seasonal fruits indoors, a museum where you can learn about the nature and creatures of Mount Kirishima, also known as the "Museum of Volcanoes," Kagoshima history museums, and cultural Experience Property. Therefore, you don't have to worry even if you are suddenly hit by bad weather. In this article, we will introduce five tourist spots in Kagoshima City and the Kirishima area that are recommended for sightseeing on rainy days. Why not enjoy your trip to Kagoshima to the fullest even on a rainy day?

Experience picking seasonal fruit in an all-weather greenhouse

A wide variety of strawberries are grown in elevated beds, including "Koiminori," "Benihoppe," and "Kannahime."
A wide variety of strawberries are grown in elevated beds, including "Koiminori," "Benihoppe," and "Kannahime."

Located about 20 minutes by car from Kagoshima Airport, this is one of Japan's largest tourist farms. Located at the foot of the Kirishima mountain range, it takes advantage of the natural blessings of the area, such as a climate with large temperature differences and natural groundwater, to grow a variety of fruits all year round.
The vast site of approximately 420,000 m2 includes orchards, greenhouses, Kagoshima Prefecture's first wine factory, a jam-making Experience Property, Restaurant, and a product center.
Fruit Experience is available all year round, but strawberries (December to May) and grapes (July to November) are available even on rainy days. We recommend checking the official social media accounts before visiting.

Sightseeing with children on rainy days is also a breeze. They have a blast with the indoor air play equipment.

Children aged 0-3 years old can play for 500 yen for 30 minutes, and children aged 4-10 years old can play for 1,000 yen for 30 minutes. Adults pay an admission fee of 200 yen.
Children aged 0-3 years old can play for 500 yen for 30 minutes, and children aged 4-10 years old can play for 1,000 yen for 30 minutes. Adults pay an admission fee of 200 yen.

The Property also include "Adventure World," an all-weather air playground for children aged 0 to 10 (open only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays). There are also playground equipment that children under the age of three can play on when accompanied by an adult, so it's a safe place to come with small children. Adults are given a complimentary cup of coffee with their admission fee, so you can take a break while keeping an eye on your children.
After having fun, you can enjoy special sweets and snacks made with fruits from the park on the first floor of Kirishima Sakurakan, and Kagoshima cuisine such as yakiniku and black pork shabu-shabu at Restaurant on the second floor.

Comments Local Guide
This is an exciting farm where both adults and children can have fun all day long. From November to July, you can also Experience making kumquat jam with a group of 10 or more people and a reservation made at least two weeks in advance. You can also sample wine at the product center.
Kirishima Sakura Fruit Land
  • URLhttp://sakurafarms.jp/
  • 住所5631-2 Kokubu Shigehisa, Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture (※When searching with a navigation system, enter "6001 Kokubu Shigehisa, Kirishima City" or "Haruyama Green Park") MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 20 minutes by car from Kagoshima Airport
  • 営業時間10:00-17:00 (varies depending on each Property)
  • 定休日Closed on Tuesdays and other irregular holidays (check official website)
  • 入場料Admission is free (some Property within the park may be charged)
  • TEL0995-73-3900
  • 駐車場free

Visitor Center for "Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park" and "Kirishima Geopark"

An open space where you can learn about the magnificent nature and history of Mount Kirishima
An open space where you can learn about the magnificent nature and history of Mount Kirishima

This is the visitor center for Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park and Kirishima Geopark, located in the Ebino Plateau at an altitude of about 1,200m. Knowledgeable, specialized Staff/staff member will provide a thorough guide to the nature and history of Mount Kirishima using dioramas, photographs, and panels, depending on the visitor's purpose, whether that be mountain climbing, hiking, or walking.
Inside the museum, specimens excavated from Mt. Kirishima are also on display, and you can observe the strata that were deposited about 7,500 years ago right before your eyes. You can learn a lot about the sights around Ebino Plateau, the history of the volcano, its topography, geology, vegetation, and more, to help you enjoy the scenery and mountain climbing of Mt. Kirishima even more.

Observe the animals and plants that live in the majestic and beautiful Mount Kirishima

You can learn about the wide variety of plants and animals that have been created as a result of ancient volcanic activity and climate change.
You can learn about the wide variety of plants and animals that have been created as a result of ancient volcanic activity and climate change.

Besides the history of the volcano, you can also learn more about the plants, insects, wild birds, and animals found on Mount Kirishima. Insect specimens actually collected by Staff/staff member are on display, and you can also take a closer look under a microscope. By deepening your knowledge of the mountain's creatures, you're sure to discover new charms of Mount Kirishima.
In addition, events that stimulate children's imagination and powers of observation are held at least five times a year. There are plenty of things that will pique your curiosity, such as special exhibitions made by Staff/staff member and introductions to rare wild birds and plants, making it a place that can be enjoyed by both adults and children, no matter when you visit.

Comments Local Guide
You can learn about the magnificent history of the mountain indoors and feel the power of Mount Kirishima. There are plenty of panels, specimens, and videos, and the explanations are easy to understand, so you can learn new ways to enjoy mountain climbing. There is also a coloring corner, so it can be used as a play area for children.
Ebino Eco Museum Center
  • URLhttps://ebino-ecomuseum.go.jp/
  • 住所1495-5 Suenaga, Ebino City, Miyazaki Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 60 minutes by car from Kagoshima Airport
  • 営業時間9:00～17:00
  • 定休日Open daily
  • 入場料free
  • TEL0984-33-3002
  • 駐車場Paid (500 yen)

Experience cutting glass while looking out at Sakurajima and Kinko Bay

"Kiriko Fragment Crafts" can be Experience casually without making a reservation and costs 1,000 yen per person (30 minutes).
"Kiriko Fragment Crafts" can be Experience casually without making a reservation and costs 1,000 yen per person (30 minutes).

At the Shimazu family's villa, Meisho Sengan-en, a popular tourist destination in Kagoshima, there is Property where you can Experience Kagoshima culture that is perfect for sightseeing on a rainy day. There are various Experience available, such as Satsuma Kiriko cutting, Satsuma ware painting, and Oshima Tsumugi sachets, but the most recommended is the Kiriko Fragment Craft, which can be Experience without a reservation. You can freely combine colorful Satsuma Kiriko fragments to create one-of-a-kind accessories and key chains. There is also a photo spot where you can take photogenic photos of your completed work just by placing it on a stand, making it the perfect place to create memories.

The stunning beauty of Shimazu Satsuma Kiriko, a traditional Kagoshima craft

You can purchase Satsuma Kiriko glasses and accessories at the Sengan-en brand shop
You can purchase Satsuma Kiriko glasses and accessories at the Sengan-en brand shop

Satsuma Kiriko glass dates back to the end of the Edo period, when it was created in a kiln run by the Shimazu clan. It was once discontinued, but was revived by the Shimazu family over a century later, and has been passed down to this day. Sengan-en has a directly managed store with a wide lineup of colorful Satsuma Kiriko products that highlight the outstanding cutting techniques of the craftsmen. In addition to the familiar glassware, they also sell accessories such as pendants and earrings, so you can enjoy just looking at them. It might be a good idea to choose a souvenir for yourself or a gift for someone special.

Comments Local Guide
There are plenty of Activity you can Experience without making a reservation, even if the weather suddenly turns bad. In particular, the "bamboo crafts" activity allows you to freely decorate bamboo dragonflies and other objects, and is a fun experience to enjoy with your children.
Scenic spot Sengan-en
  • URLhttps://www.senganen.jp/
  • 住所9700-1 Yoshinocho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 5 minutes by car from JR Kagoshima Station
  • 営業時間9:00～17:00
  • 定休日Open everyday (only closed on Kagoshima Marathon days)
  • 入場料[Garden and Shoko Shuseikan] Adults (high school students and above) 1,000 yen, elementary and junior high school students 500 yen, infants and toddlers free
    [Goten] Adults (high school students and above) 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students 250 yen
  • TEL099-247-1551
  • 駐車場Paid (300 yen)

A historical tourist Property where you can learn about the lives of great men from Kagoshima who supported the Meiji Restoration

Learn about the lives of great men from Kagoshima who supported the Meiji Restoration
Learn about the lives of great men from Kagoshima who supported the Meiji Restoration

This historical tourist Property is located about an 8-minute walk from JR Kagoshima Chuo Station. It is packed with panels, videos, and audio guides, and you can enjoy learning about great people of Kagoshima, such as Shimazu Nariakira, Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, and Tenshoin Atsuhime.
In the section where you can learn about the Satsuma Domain's unique educational method, "Goju Education," you can Experience the childhood of these great men through hands Experience on exhibits using video and other materials. In the "Play Miyanse Corner," you can also play historical games such as the Saigo Takamori Life Sugoroku, so even small children can learn about history while playing.

Meet Saigo Takamori at the "Restoration Experience Hall" drama performance

Two types of plays, "The Road to Restoration" and "Satsuma Students, Going West," are performed a total of nine times a day (as of March 1, 2023) (© Restoration Furusatokan)
Two types of plays, "The Road to Restoration" and "Satsuma Students, Going West," are performed a total of nine times a day (as of March 1, 2023) (© Restoration Furusatokan)

After learning about the great men of Kagoshima on the first floor, we recommend watching a drama in the "Restoration Experience Hall" on the first basement floor. In "The Road to the Restoration," you can see the history of Satsuma from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period, with realistic versions of great men such as Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi appearing in a performance that makes full use of robots.
"Satsuma Students Go West" is a drama that recreates the story of how the Satsuma Domain was one of the first to turn its attention overseas during the period of national isolation, sending students to the UK. The drama is packed with the history built by great people in Kagoshima, and you can deepen your knowledge by reading the materials in the museum again after watching the drama.

Comments Local Guide
There are many valuable exhibits, including materials that can only be seen here and costumes used in historical dramas. In particular, the corner that recreates Tenshoin Atsuhime's room in the inner palace of Edo Castle is beautiful, and the costume display is also a must-see.
Kagoshima City Restoration Hometown Museum
  • URLhttps://ishinfurusatokan.info/
  • 住所23-1 Kajiyacho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 8 minutes walk from JR Kagoshima Chuo Station
  • 営業時間9:00-17:00 (entry until 16:30)
  • 定休日Open daily
  • 入場料Adults: 300 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 150 yen *Free for preschoolers
  • TEL099-239-7700
  • 駐車場free

The only koji theme park in Kyushu

The vast grounds also include a koji Restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with koji.
The vast grounds also include a koji Restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with koji.

Located about 3 minutes by car from Kagoshima Airport, this is Kyushu's only koji theme park. It is run by a long-established koji seed shop that has been in business for over 100 years, and was founded by Kawachi Genichiro, the developer of "Kawachikin," known as the father of modern shochu.
If you're a shochu fan, you can visit the shochu factory that focuses on koji (operating from October to January) and the Koji Museum (reservations required) to learn more about koji, so it's a must-visit for shochu lovers. You can also tour the Kirishima Kogen Beer factory, which was developed based on authentic Czech beer, and enjoy the exotic atmosphere inside a cute building that recreates the streets of the Czech Republic.

A wide selection of koji products from a long-established koji starter shop that are also recommended as souvenirs

At the souvenir shop, where you can find attractive koji products, you can sample shochu and amazake.
At the souvenir shop, where you can find attractive koji products, you can sample shochu and amazake.

After your tour, you should definitely stop by the souvenir shop. There are products on offer for health-conscious people, including "Imo Shochu Ichiyo no Koi Nikki," a long-selling product popular among women, characterized by its sweetness from the black koji brewing process, fermented alcohol from Kirishima that is full of lactic acid bacteria, and koji drinks full of enzymes. You can also sample amazake and shochu.
A recommended souvenir is the "Amazake Curry." It is a medium-spicy instant curry with a spicy kick, made with non-alcoholic amazake as a secret ingredient and using koji pork from Kagoshima Prefecture, which is raised on koji.

Comments Local Guide
The Czech townscape on the premises is very cute, and there is a corner introducing the Czech Republic and wooden toys for sale. There is also a "Future Post Office" inside the building where you can write a letter to yourself three years in the future, so there is plenty of fun to make you want to stay for a long time.
Barrel Valley Prague & GEN
  • URLhttps://praha-gen.com/
  • 住所876-15, Mizobe-cho, Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 1 minute by car from Kagoshima Airport (pick-up service available from Kagoshima Airport)
  • 営業時間9:00-17:00 (Koji Restaurant "Kojikura GEN" is open from 11:00-15:00, last orders at 14:00)
  • 定休日Year-end and New Year holidays (Koji Restaurant is closed on Wednesdays and during the New Year holidays)
  • 入場料free
  • TEL0995-58-2535
  • 駐車場free

MAP

Nearby Hoshino Resorts Property
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