Ios Capital

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Admin
Ios Capital

Ios Capital

Kagoshima Prefecture is the southernmost prefecture of mainland Japan, and as such, it doesn’t receive as many visitors as some of the more popular areas in central Japan. However, its history is every bit as rich, and its culture just as fascinating as other parts of Japan. Plus, it offers some of the most stunning views in the country.

Attractions in Kagoshima City

Kagoshima City, the capital of Kagoshima Prefecture, is home to friendly locals and an amazing backdrop: looming just across the bay from downtown is Mt. Sakurajima, an active volcano that often produces smoke and ash shows for residents. The volcano still erupts from time to time, but in the last century the only major eruption was in 1914. During this eruption, Mt. Sakurajima, which was an island before the event, spewed enough lava to connect itself to the neighboring peninsula and buried a coastal village there. The destructiveness of this event can still be seen in the remains of a temple gate from the village: only the top cross-beam is now visible. The rest is buried.

The city has a rich history, having been home to historical figures such as Saigo Takamori, as well as a prehistoric civilization that existed in the area some 9,500 years ago. Kagoshima was an important trading port with the rest of Asia and was also the site of some of Japan’s earliest contact with the west, witnessing the arrival of Jesuit missionaries in the mid-16th century. Memorials commemorating the city’s long history can be seen throughout the city, and a good way to see the most popular ones is by way of the City View tour buses that run every day.