After two months, I’d made it – my final destination on the Japanese mainland. Kagoshima lies at the southern end of Kyushu, in a bay that has a particularly noticeable and unique feature; a live volcano gently steaming away across the water. Sakurajima is Japan’s most active volcano and there was a significant likelihood it would erupt while I was there. I spent 4 days in the region and can gladly say I wasn’t blown up, suffocated or vaporised by any magmatic events. Which means I’m able to write up this blog. So here goes.

Kagoshima is a midsize city and aside from its proximity to Sakurajima, there is not a lot to set it apart from many others across Japan. Actually, the city could definitely do more to make it more of an appealing destination to visit; despite there being a large harbour, the shore is mostly undeveloped and in my opinion is crying out for an attractive promenade complete with restaurants and cafes. Walking to the ferry terminal felt like walking across a barren no-mans-land. The city train station was a hub for shopping and eating, but consequently not wildly attractive or memorable.

One thing that the city does have going for it is the Sengan-en, a traditional garden and stately home on the outskirts of the city that provided wonderful views of the volcano. There was also lots of history to learn about here; the garden plays host to a UNESCO world heritage site relating to Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution, as well as the Shimazu clan residence originally built in 1658, lived in by one of the last samurai in Japan. I enjoyed a drizzly afternoon here exploring the gardens and admiring the design of the beautiful house. Now that I’m so far south, the climate is noticeably warmer and muggier, which means sweat city.

Of course, I took a trip across the bay on a ¥200 (£1.20) ferry to visit Sakurajima itself. You’re not permitted within 3km of the crater, but the landscapes around the edges of the volcanic peninsula were delightful. A tourist bus linked up all the relevant sites, so I spent a happy day going from the walking path, to the viewpoint and to the thermal footbath, doing my best to avoid the swathes of loud and obnoxious tourists.

Another thing I did while in the region was take one last train south to check out a small seaside onsen town called Ibusuki (it’s one of Japan’s most southern railway stations). I was convinced to come here to try the famous sand baths; one of the few places in the world where you can pay to get buried in hot volcanic sand (leaving your head exposed obviously), which is meant to be extremely good for your health. It sounded like a bizarre and unique experience so I gave it a go. I’ve never been buried like that before and the sensation definitely verges on the unsettling. They advise staying in there for just 10 minutes so that you don’t faint; I was definitely relieved when I was able to push my way out of the sand when time was up. I was able to wash up afterwards in the regular onsen. It seemed that there was plenty more to see and do in the area but unfortunately I didn’t have enough time. Add it to the list of destinations I need to revisit some day!

From Kagoshima, I was flying to Okinawa, the final prefecture of my trip. I’d had an incredible time in Kyushu; it had been full of surprises, with incredible scenic beauty, cool cities and amazing history and culture. It’s astonishing to me how it is relatively unknown to western tourists – it has everything you could ask for for an exciting and varied holiday. I was leaving very impressed, and there’s no doubt in my mind that I will be back one day!