Kagoshima Photo Gallery - In the City

Density is not very high in the city centre and buildings tend to be spaced out. Not all of Japan is like Tokyo. City Hall stands at the end of a long park leading to the ferry terminal.

The Satusuma Retainers Monument commemorates those who helped with flood control in the 18th century.

The Prefectural Museum of Culture the Reimeikan is located on the site of the former castle and showcases the city's history and folk arts. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed on most exhibits except a few marked areas.

The Shiroyama Observatory is over 100m above the city and frames the skyline against the giant volcano across the water.

However, below the observatory, down the stairs from the parking lot, the hiking trail offers just as nice a view, albeit slightly lower.

With some time to go before the next tour bus arrives, I decided to walk downhill. En route, I saw a small park where 13 stone statues of the Buddha stood, with clothes and flowers.

Saigo Cave was a hiding place during the Satsuma Rebellion.

Back downhill, the Public Access Center's historical building hosts some exhibits about the city's history. I was all alone in here.

The History and Culture Road starts from here and heads towards the shopping district of Tenmonkan.

Volcanic eruptions are a reality but authorities put a cute face to this persistent threat.

The Kagoshima Prefectural Museum is geared towards locals and smells a blast from the past. There are fish tanks, exhibits on the volcano and survival food in case it erupts.

Tenmonkan is the city's shopping district and its name is taken from the Edo-era astronominal institute.

St. Francis Xavier was the first stone church during Meiji Japan. Destroyed in World War II, only this wall remains today.

Sengan-en was once a feudal family's villa whose history dates back over 3 centuries. The gardens look towards Sakurajima. Western industrial technology was studied and introduced to Japan from here, with Shoko Shuseikan once being a machine factory.

Next door, the Ijinkan was a residence for foreign engineers who came to help operate Japan's first western-style spinning mill.

Kagoshima's streets are relatively quiet at night. The biggest exception is "Kagoma" Hometown Gourmet Village, an open-air traditional food centre just steps from the main train station.

Kagoshima-Chuo station is the southern terminus of the Kyushu Shinkansen. The station's concourse is not too big, looked new, and offered lots of souvenir shops for some last-minute snacks.

Raw chicken is a specialty in this part of Kyushu. Care to try?

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