Sakurajima

Introducing Sakurajima

Dominating the skyline from Kagoshima is the brooding cone of this spectacular active volcano. Since 1955 there has been an almost continuous stream of smoke and ash. The most violent eruption was in 1914, when the volcano poured out over three billion tonnes of lava, overwhelming numerous villages and converting the island to a peninsula.

Among Sakurajima’s three peaks, only Minami-dake (1040m) is active. Visitors are not permitted to climb the volcano, but there are several good lookout points with walkways across a small corner of the immense lava flow. While some parts of Sakurajima are covered in deep volcanic ash or crumbling lava, other places have exceptionally fertile soil. Huge daikon (radishes) weighing up to 35kg and tiny mikan (oranges) only 3cm in diameter are locally grown.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009