5 min read

Finally in Kagoshima – The Volcano Dream

This post continues from my previous trip to Fukuoka, Kitakyushu & Kumamoto.
But to be honest… those places weren’t the main reason for this journey. This whole Kyushu trip? Yeah, it was all about Kagoshima, I just really wanted to see Sakurajima, the live volcano! That was the dream. I spent 7 days in Kyushu, but 5 of them were happily spent in Kagoshima. Here’s how it went:

Day 1 – Late Arrival and Chinese Buffet Night

I took the Shinkansen from Kumamoto to Kagoshima around 8 PM. It was already dark, but I was excited. My friend and his team were waiting for me at Kagoshima-Chuo Station. First stop? Chinese buffet! And it was so good. I ate like I hadn’t eaten in a week (lol). I also got a small gift from his senior, which was really sweet. What a nice start to my time here.

Day 2 – Big Summer Festival Vibes

The next day, there was a huge summer festival happening in the city. I didn’t even plan for it, it just happened. The streets were packed with people, music, dancers, and big colorful floats. I was just standing there, smiling, not really knowing what was going on but loving every second of it. It was my first time seeing a real Japanese summer festival like this. I don’t know the name though (lol), so if you do, please let me know in the comments. It was hot, noisy, fun, and full of energy.

Day 3 – Khmer Food + River Swim = Perfect Day

This day felt special. In the morning, we cooked Khmer food together, Bay Sroub, my favorite dish from high school. Just the smell made me feel like I was back home. Simple food, but full of memory. Then in the afternoon, we drove about 70 km out of the city to go swimming in a river. It was super hot, and the water felt amazing. And guess what? After 2.5 years of living in Japan, this was actually my first time swimming here. Even better, a bunch of local elementary kids were playing nearby and said hi to us (lol). After we got back, we had spicy ramen near Kagoshima-Chuo. All of us chose the spicy one, like true Khmer warriors.

Day 4 – Volcano Views, Trams, and Grandma’s Yakisoba

In the morning, I got a haircut (2000 yen not bad!), the barber is a big fan of One-Piece lol, there are many One-Piece figures at his place.

Then I went to Sengan-en alone, a really beautiful garden with a perfect view of Sakurajima. I could see smoke coming out of the volcano. Like actual smoke!

After that, I took a tram (my first time ever riding a tram in Japan) to eat yakisoba near my friend’s university. The place was run by an old grandma, and the yakisoba was so good I still remember the taste while writing this. That night, we had a small drink at home with my friend and his seniors. Everyone seemed to love drinking (lol), and the vibe was just chill.

Day 5 – Zoo Date and Ramen Again

This day was more relaxed. Just me and my friend, walking around Hirakawa Zoo. The heat was crazy, but we still had fun checking out the animals. We had some ramen before heading home, of course. Can’t go a day without ramen in Kagoshima.

Day 6 – Chill Work and Sunset Volcano

On my last full day, I didn’t do much. I sat in Starbucks, got some work done, and just took it easy. Later, we went to eat abura ramen, then walked to Kagoshima Port and Marine Port. My friend’s house is a little high up on a mountain, so when we got home, we could see the whole Sakurajima volcano clearly. Even around 7 PM, it was still bright out because it’s summer, and the view was just chef’s kiss.

Day 7 – Sayonara, Kagoshima

On the last day, I flew back to Tokyo. Not gonna lie, I felt a bit sad leaving. But also full of food, of fun moments, and of good memories.

A Little Wrap Up

I came to Kagoshima mainly for the volcano, but I left with so much more. The laughs with friends, the surprise summer festival, the spicy ramen, the river swim, the chill moments… they all became a part of this memory. I’m really thankful to my friend and his seniors for taking care of me, showing me around, and letting me join their life for a few days. Also, this trip reminded me that solo travel doesn’t mean being alone. It means being open—open to new places, new people, and random fun. I didn’t plan much, but somehow everything turned out better than I expected. Sometimes, that’s the magic of travel. So yeah—thank you, Kagoshima. You gave me exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

(Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this, check out the first part of my Kyushu trip. See you in the next story ✌️)