Sakurajima Half-Day Trip: My Volcanic Adventure! 🌋🚌

#summervacay
I recently took a half-day trip to Sakurajima in Kagoshima, and it was quite the experience, despite the volcano playing hide-and-seek with the clouds!

Sakurajima's Island Loop Bus & Getting Around

The island's loop bus runs from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, departing every half hour from Sakurajima Port. This bus covers the main attractions on a 55-minute circuit. Sakurajima is actually quite large, with other bus lines reaching more distant spots, but for my limited time, I stuck to the loop bus.

My Stops Along the Way:

Karasujima Observatory (烏島展望所): My first stop was here. The volcano was unfortunately hidden behind clouds, so I just relaxed on a bench and enjoyed the breeze. This spot is only a few hundred meters from the next, Akamizu Promenade (赤水展望広場), so you can easily see both together.

Yunohira Observatory (湯之平展望所): This was a more significant stop. The driver actually waited for about 10-15 minutes, allowing everyone to explore before getting back on the bus. As soon as I stepped out, I was hit by incredibly strong winds! With the volcano still shrouded in clouds, I quickly took a look around and then hurried back to the bus to snag a good seat – priority seating is key when it's windy!

Sakurajima offers a unique landscape shaped by its active volcano, and even with the clouds, the raw power of nature is palpable. It's an adventure worth taking!

#kagoshima #sakurajima #volcano #japantravel #islandhopping #loopbus

Post by Fly with Jess | Jun 28, 2025