Kagoshima Prefecture Essentials

Kagoshima Prefecture features a diverse array of cultural and natural sites across its volcanic mainland and subtropical islands. The region is home to the UNESCO-listed Jōmon Sugi cedar on Yakushima and the Tanegashima Space Center, Japan’s largest rocket-launch complex. Historical sites include the Sengan-en garden and Shoko Shuseikan, reflecting the Shimazu clan’s industrial legacy. Visitors can explore the active volcanic peaks of Kirishima, visit the southernmost point of Kyushu at Cape Sata, or experience geothermal sand baths in Ibusuki.

Σ64 / CC BY 3.0

Jōmon Sugi cedar

Jōmon Sugi is a large Cryptomeria tree located on Yakushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Japan.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

Kirishima Shrine

Kirishima-Jingū is a Shinto shrine located in Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

Motamota / CC BY-SA 4.0

Mt. Shinmoe

Shinmoedake is a volcano in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan, and a part of the Mount Kirishima cluster of volcanoes.

みっち / CC BY-SA 3.0

Tanegashima Space Center

The Tanegashima Space Center is the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan with a total area of about 9.7 square kilometers.

Ippukucho / CC BY 3.0

Cape Sata

Cape Sata is a cape at the southern tip of the Ōsumi Peninsula of Kyūshū island, Japan, and is the southernmost point of the island, just…

Museum Shoko Shuseikan Main Building

Housed in a stone factory building dating to 1865, this museum is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. It documents the industrial modernization efforts of the Shimazu clan, featuring machinery and historical artifacts from the Edo and Meiji periods.