Sakurajima Visitor Center

Sakurajima Visitor Center is a volcanic science exhibition hall on Sakurajima in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is built within the lava flow area from the great Sakurajima eruption. Nearby is the Lava Nagisa Promenade, where you can learn about Sakurajima’s eruptions. Inside the visitor center are eruption-experience corners and displays of Sakurajima ejecta, allowing visitors to study the volcano’s history. Unusually for a visitor center, it also has a museum shop selling rare specialty items such as Sakurajima-related books and Sakurajima camellia oil. Many public tourist facilities are concentrated nearby, making it possible to enjoy a compact Sakurajima sightseeing experience. Because Sakurajima is an active volcano, there are many hot springs as ‘blessings’ of the volcano, and the footbath at Lava Nagisa Park is also close by. The center is a great place not only to fear the volcano but to learn the history of Sakurajima’s coexistence with volcanic life. Access: from Kagoshima Port, take the ferry about 15 minutes; from the Sakurajima Ferry Terminal (Sakurajima Port), it’s about a 10-minute walk.