プライベートツアーで鹿児島で愛されている蒸留酒を発見しましょう。

Overview

Shochu is a traditional Japanese hard liquor, a distilled spirit made from grains and vegetables. The most common ingredients are sweet potatoes, barley, rice, buckwheat, and sugarcane. You can tour a shochu factory and enjoy tastings in Kagoshima, one of Japan's leading shochu producers. Since the shochu factories are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, the tour includes a Japanese whiskey factory tour and tasting. Discover the sights of Kagoshima that interest you the most on this customizable sightseeing tour. Alongside your private driver and guide, make an itinerary of your desired attractions or get recommendations to create your perfect day. Whether you want to focus on samurai, culture, shopping, or Japanese history, this tour has everything covered for you. You can’t visit every place on your “What to Expect” list in six hours.

Itinerary

1. Sengan-en

   Sengan-en is a Japanese style stately home and landscape garden along the coast north of downtown Kagoshima.　 Sengan-en was built in 1658 as one of the residences of the powerful Shimadzu clan. One of the garden's most striking features is its use of active volcano Sakurajima and Kagoshima Bay as borrowed scenery. The gardens cover 50,000 square meters and include calming ponds, bubbling streams, mysterious shrines, a bamboo grove, and a mountain hiking trail. Visit Tsurugane Shrine and pray to become more beautiful, or the unusual Cat Shrine and pray for the health and longevity of your feline friend! The expansive house provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of one of Japan’s most influential feudal lords, and hosted Edward VIII of the UK and Nicholas II of Russia among others. See the rooms that the lord spent his daily life in and enjoy the view of the gardens and scenery beyond as only a samurai lord could.

   · 1 h 10 min· Admission not included

2. Iso Kogeikan

   Satsuma Kiriko Glassworks・Iso Kogei-kan You can watch the manufacturing process of Satsuma Kiriko Cut-glass here as well as buy pieces at the neighboring Iso Kogei-kan. Chinese overlaying coloured glass techniques were fused with European glass cutting methods to produce this delicate and graceful cut glass masterpiece. Developed by the 28th lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Nariakira, the technique faded out with his death for a period. However, more than a hundred years later, the mysterious and beautiful sparkle was revived and came to be known nation-wide as a representative craftwork of Kagoshima.

3. Kagoshima (Tsurumaru) Castle Ruins & Goromon

   Satsuma domain. This castle gate, the largest one of this kind in Japan with its height and width of 20 meters, was restored in 2020 for the first time in about 150 years.

   · Non-stop passage

4. Sakurajima Visitor Center

   Sakurajima Visitor Center Learn the history of Sakurajima's volcanic　eruptions through films and dioramas. A base facility of the Geopark. You can shop a diverse lineup of specialty goods and souvenirs.

   · 30 min

5. Sakurajima Lava Nagisa Promenade

   "Sakurajima" Yougan Nagisa Park Public Footbath A 100 meters long footbath, one of the biggest in Japan. Enjoy the all-natural hot spring while gazing up at Sakurajima.

   · Non-stop passage

6. Yunohira Lookout

   Yunohira Observatory is the highest point on Mt. Sakurajima open to the general public. From the observatory, you can see a rough lava field and, at times, rising plumes of volcanic smoke. This spot commands a picturesque view of Kagoshima City and the calm waters of Kinko Bay. The night brings a beautiful view in which the pitch dark of Mt. Sakurajima contrasts with the lights of Kagoshima City. Taking inspiration from the name Sakurajima (cherry blossom island), the roof over the observation deck is shaped like a cherry blossom petal.

   · 20 min

7. Arimura Lava Lookout

   The observatory is located along a 1-km trail on a small hill in the lava field created by the great 1946 eruption. From here there is a clear view of impressive Sakurajima, the world famous active volcano, and Kinko Bay. As the observatory is close to the crater of the steep, cone shaped South Peak, you may hear roaring or explosive sounds from the crater that give quite a different impression of Sakurajima.

   · 30 min

8. Hot Sand Baths　"Saraku"　 One of the most unique natural health and beauty treatments in the world today! Loved by local people for over 350 years, our hot sand baths are great for body detoxification and increased circulation, which are now known to be 3-4 times greater than those of conventional hot-springs. Lying on the hot sand, with the sound of the sea in the background, is a relaxation that you will not soon forget. It will leave you feeling thoroughly refreshed, with body and mind cleansed and a smile on your face.

   · 1 h· Admission not included

9. Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots

   Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots　(Chiran Peace Museum) A Testament to the Importance of Worldwide Peace To tell a true story for future generations and to wish for eternal world peace, the Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots collects, preserves, and displays the belongings, final letters, and documents which were left behind by the members of the army special attack corps, who died at the battle of Okinawa at the end of the Greater East Asia War (called the Pacific War after rhw war). Each of the farewell notes and relics displayed show the absurdity of war as well as the pilot's feelings, and make us recall the importance of peace, our lives, and family bonds. 　　Chiran is a town in which the army's special air attack base was located toward the end of the Pacific War. At the Chiran Peace Museum, valuable records and materials, such as deceased soldiers' portraits and their belongings, are collected, preserved and displayed.

   · 40 min· Admission not included

10. Chiran Samurai Residence Garden

    Chiran Samurai Residence Complex Nicknamed the "Little Kyoto of Satsuma", Chiran is home to more than 500 samurai residences during the late Edo period (19th century). As the original buildings of the complex are well-preserved, one can get to witness a real, Edo Period Samurai settlement here. The charm of the Chiran Samurai Residence Complex lies in the 700m stonewall-lined paths, the scattered Samurai houses and the beautifully landscaped gardens within. Built with defense purposes in mind, the paths are neither too wide nor too narrow, and there are many corners and bents to reduce visibility (of potential invaders). Furthermore, the hedges (behind the stone walls of the houses) are pruned in such a way that one inside the house can see the outside clearly, but not the other way round. As such, it is possible to ambush invaders with arrows and spears without exposing one's location.

    · 30 min· Admission not included

11. 無双蔵

    Satsuma Musou Shochu Distillery "Muso Gura" Musokura offers tours of the shochu manufacturing process, where visitors can see how shochu is actually made and learn about the appeal of shochu. The traditions of handicrafts and earthenware making that have been passed down for generations still live on today. Tours of the manufacturing process and free tastings of shochu made in the brewery are available. Shochu is also available for purchase.　Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

    · 30 min

12. Mars Tsunuki Distillery

    The southern most whisky distillery on the main Japanese islands　 At the Mars Tsunuki Distillery you can see the old still tower buildings, and the stone barrel warehouse, as well as take a tour of the production process, and see the history of Honbo Shuzo's story of liquor making. At the old Honbo family guest house called 'Hojo' built in 1933, you can enjoy a traditional Japanese residence and its garden which changes its appearance season to season, day to day, moment to moment. Whisky and shochu tasing is available for a fee, and liquor and a selection of original products, and local products are available at the gift shop.　Does not include tasting fee. When Satsuma Shochu Distillery"Muso Gura" is closed (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays), we will guide you to Mars Tsunuki Distillery.

    · 50 min

Pickup

Pickup included.

Please let us know your hotels in Kagoshima in advance if you stay hotel which are not on the list. If you will stay at a local house, please send us an exact google URL or your preference meetup place.

What to know before you go

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• There are no special devices that allow wheelchairs to be boarded. Wheelchairs brought by customers can be stored in the trunk or inside the vehicle.
• 20+ can participate shochu (Japanese traditional hard liquor) tasting.
• In Japan, drinking alcohol under the age of 20 is prohibited by law.
• Please read this before entering the sand baths and hot spring baths.
• High blood pressure (180/100mmHg or higher)
• Heart disease, arrhythmia
• Angina, lung disease
• Pregnancy, menstruation
• Inflammation, fever
• Those with pacemakers are also not permitted to bathe.
• Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability.

Travelers

Pricing per vehicle (up to 15 people).

Cancellation policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

• From 0 days before : 0% refunded

This activity can be canceled in case of bad weather.

Product code: 424579P3

Activity offered by TABIKAGO(たびかご) via Viator.