This is a guest post by Halit Bozdogan.

Japan has many sights, sounds and smells to delight the traveler. The southernmost city in Japan is Kagoshima and has a very unique flavor. With its sub-tropical climate it’s best to visit during Spring or Autumn when sampling its experiences should prove to be of little difficulty. A convenient (and highly reliable) tram system runs through the city center, so you’ll have no problems getting to the more interesting places within Kagoshima.

Sakurajima

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The jewel of Kagoshima, this stunning volcano is one of the main attractions. Situated within the bay area, you can take a short ferry trip across to visit this amazing force of nature. There are also several hot springs in the immediate area, allowing you to soak weary bones in volcanically heated mineral water. It’s recommended to go in Spring (or even Summer) — clouds tend to obscure your view in other seasons.

Dolphin Port

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Facing Sakurajima and just a short walk away from the ferry terminal you can find this boardwalk. It’s packed with shops and restaurants and affords possibly the best view of the volcano and bay. It’s recommended to go in the early evening as it’s lit beautifully at night.

Tenmonkan

{Image source: the author}

Located in central Kagoshima, this area is only a few stops down from the train station. It’s the main commercial district and is packed full of stores and great places to eat. Busy, vibrant and reasonably priced, it’s probably the best place to get a hotel as it affords a tram ride to pretty much any place you need to go.

Amu Plaza

{Image source: the author’s}

For pure commercialism Amu Plaza is perfect. Connected to the train station, it is a shopping center over 6 floors, with hundreds of shops, stalls, cafes and arcades to keep you entertained for hours. On the top floor there’s a modern cinema complex and adorning the roof is a Ferris wheel. Being so high, it offers an amazing view of the entire city. Again, it’s recommended to try it on a clear, bright day or you might find clouds covering a lot of your view.

Terukuni Shrine

{Image source: the author}

A beautiful Shinto shrine located just behind Tenmonkan. It’s a remarkable and serene location, where silence is golden. Excepting of course New Year’s where it’s full to bursting with people celebrating. During other times, the grounds offer a place to contemplate and rest for a while after sightseeing all day.

Kagoshima may lack the hustle and bustle of major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, but offers a much more relaxed experience and some amazing sights you’re not likely to forget.

Add a flight to Kagoshima to the Japan leg of your RTW itinerary extremely easily. Note the sidetrip in the “comments” box of your TripPlanner submission.

Halit Bozdogan is a writer and works for Appliances Online.