Once an island in Kagoshima Bay, this volcano continues to grow (and Glow) by throwing out lava from it’s core. The lava has flown down the side and joined the mainland so that it is now a peninsula.
The Diamond Princess docked on the left in Kagoshima and we took a ferry across to Sakurajima. The orange tags show where I took pictures.
From the Ferry Terminal a bus drove us around the coast, past the airport, and up a road to get a close up look at the lava field. The bus cannot drive up the road, so the hike begins. It was raining a bit.
We got spread out a bit as we all waked at a different pace.
A lot of people have hiked up this trail over the years. Our group is the only one we saw, maybe because of the rain, or because it was early in the tourist season.
Along the other side of the trail we see the Lava field. It has been a custom for superstitious hikers to push coins into crevices in the rock for luck on their journey.
In case the coins do not work, as happens some days, there are shelters to get protection from the rocks thrown down by the volcano. I thought about getting shelter from the rain, then thought it was better to keep up with the group.
There was an observation deck built to look at the path the lava travelled down to the water.
From here, it is a hike back down to the bus. They said there was a surprise waiting for us at the bottom.
This was the surprise. There is a stream running down the mountain and benches have been set up along the stream so visitors can relax and dangle their feet in the warm water. Tip, towels are not provided.
I have recently learned that there is a similar stream running through the airport nearby. I wonder if it is part of the same stream and who gets the water first. Before returning to the ferry and Kagoshima, we had some time to admire the Cherry blossoms.
Doug, I love mountains crowned by cloud rings– stunning. Rocks with coins inserted– great idea. You looking so happy– priceless! Public foot bath– fantastic. Thanks for a fun post!
Interesting site. The closest I came to a volcano was in Hawaii (20 miles away when it was spouting) and Mt St Helen’s after its devastation..
Those are much bigger than this one and this one was behaving itself on March 26, 2023 but was letting off steam on February 9, 2023. Residents for two kilometres around were warned about the possibility of falling rocks and flowing lava.
I have seen mild activity on the sides of the volcanic mountain in Hawaii though not sure if I want to be near when more active:) Japan is on my bucket list