KayakKing,Cycling：Living with an active volcano: explore Sakurajima to feel the breath of the earth
Kagoshima City, in the south of Kyushu, is the fourth largest city in Kyushu with a population of approximately 600,000 and Sakurajima is located here. Kagoshima City and Sakurajima face each other across the Kinko Bay. It is similar to Mt. Vesuvius in the Italian city of Naples. The distance between the city of Kagoshima and the Sakurajima crater is very close, about 10km in a straight line, and volcanic ash often falls onto the city during its frequent eruptions. However, the residents are proud of Sakurajima as a symbol of Kagoshima.
Sakurajima is still erupting and emitting fumes. Although the mountain itself cannot be climbed, there is a volcano monitoring system in place and people can live safely at the foot of Sakurajima. This trip is based on the theme of Sakurajima and offers a glimpse into the lives of the people who live with this volcano, as well as a sense of awe to the land.
●Area: Sakurajima, Kagoshima Pref.
●Main Activity: Cycling around Sakurajima
●Difficulty: ３
●2nights 3days
●Accommodation
Day1: Rainbow Sakurajima
Day2: Rainbow Sakurajima
●Guide: An English speaking guide
●PAX: Minimum 4 / Maximum 8
●Price: JPY325,000-
・Cycling around Sakurajima
・Kayaking around Sakurajima on the sea
The journey begins at Kagoshima Airport. Kagoshima Airport is also situated on the Shirasu Plateau, which was covered with pumice and volcanic ash ejected from the surrounding volcanoes in prehistoric times. From the airport, a private car will take you to Kagoshima City.
First, take a bird's-eye view of the city and Sakurajima from the Shiroyama Observatory, where you can see its location. Sakurajima is a majestic island with a cloud of smoke rising from its peak. Afterwards, take the ferry from Kagoshima Port to Sakurajima. The boat ride takes about 15 minutes, and you will be there in no time. The ferry operates 24 hours a day. After arriving at Sakurajima Port, a volcanologist Dr. Fukushima will give you a lecture on the history, features, and topography of Sakurajima at the Sakurajima Visitor Centre. Afterwards, you will check in at the adjacent inn. Yes, that's right! You will actually stay on Sakurajima! There are no more activities on this day.
On this day, you will cycle around Sakurajima. From the inn, go around Sakurajima in an anti-clockwise direction. There is a river on Sakurajima, but water does not normally flow. When it rains, mudslides flow, and you can see such rivers as you cycle along. Then dig for sand on the sandy beach of Arimura. You will get a surprise!
Sakurajima has repeatedly erupted in the past. Lava flowed each time, but the appearance was different depending on the time of the eruption. The vegetation was also different. With these sights in view, you will arrive at the “Kurokami Buried Torii”, where you can see the damage caused by Sakurajima's major eruption in 1914. After lunch, you will continue on to the northern side of the mountain.
In the Shirahama area, you can see farming in action. Shirahama is famous for the world's largest radish, the Sakurajima Daikon radish, and the world's smallest tangerine, the Sakurajima Little Tangerine. If the seasons are right, you can experience harvesting. Keep going and you will arrive at the inn at the finish line. The activity of the day is a 36.4km round-the-island cycling tour of Sakurajima, which takes 4 hours 30 minutes.
Explore Sakurajima from the sea. Today's main activity is kayaking. A private car will take you to Arimurazaki Port, the kayak departure point where you will start your trip. Sakurajima was originally a remote islet in Kinko Bay. It was connected to the Osumi Peninsula by land during the great eruption of 1914. Let's go and look around the point where they were connected by kayak. There is a place called the 'Secret Cove' here. You can't go there on foot. Please look forward to seeing what kind of place it is.
After advancing the kayak and taking lunch at the sandy beach of Arimura, where you also stopped on the previous day, you return to the starting point. Just before you return, there will be some amazing scenery. Please look forward to it. The journey ends with a private car from Arimurazaki Port to Sakurajima Port.
Contact
・Misolalink Co., Ltd.
・Address：124-7 Nabekura,Aira-shi, Kagoshima-ken 899-5411 Japan
・Tel：+81 995-73-6666
・ https://misolalink.com/
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