Kagoshima Private Shore Excursion Sakurajima and Sengan-en
Description
Please note that even if you select “Tour Language: English(written),” the driver speaks Japanese only. Communication will be supported using a translation app, and English tour information will be provided in advance. Explore the captivating landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Kagoshima with this 6-hour private car charter shore excursion. Perfect for cruise passengers, this tour allows you to travel to Sakurajima via ferry, where you can admire stunning volcanic views from Yunohira and Arimura Lava Observatories. Stroll along the scenic Lava Nagisa Trail and unwind with a natural footbath experience. The excursion also includes a visit to Sengan-en, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the historic garden of the Shimazu clan, making it an ideal way to experience the best of Kagoshima's nature and history during your port time. - 6-hour private car charter designed for cruise passengers - Ferry crossing to Sakurajima with panoramic views
Tour Options
Itinerary
Located near Kagoshima Port, this terminal is the main gateway to Sakurajima. Both passengers and vehicles can board here for a short ferry ride across the bay. From the cruise port, you will transfer directly by car onto the ferry.(500Yen/person)
The highest accessible point on Sakurajima, located about 373 meters above sea level. From here, visitors can enjoy close-up views of the active volcano’s rugged slopes, as well as panoramic vistas of Kagoshima City and Kinko Bay.
Located on the southern side of Sakurajima, this observatory sits within a vast lava field created by past eruptions. Visitors can enjoy dramatic views of the active volcano’s slopes and the contrast between rugged lava formations and the blue waters of Kinko Bay. Walking paths through the lava field make it an impressive spot to experience Sakurajima’s volcanic power up close.
A scenic walking trail stretching about 3 km along Sakurajima’s coastline, surrounded by lava rocks from past eruptions. The promenade offers impressive views of the volcano and Kinko Bay. At the end of the walk, visitors can relax at one of Japan’s largest open-air natural hot spring footbaths, free of charge, while enjoying the sea breeze and mountain scenery.
A historic Japanese garden built in 1658 by the powerful Shimazu clan, rulers of the Satsuma domain. This beautifully landscaped garden features ponds, shrines, and traditional residences, with Sakurajima as a stunning backdrop across Kinko Bay. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sengan-en offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick you up at the arrival hall. The driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name. ＊Please note that a standard vehicle will be used, so for groups of four passengers, one person will be seated in the front passenger seat and three passengers will share the rear seats.＊
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(10)
We had an awesome time and our driver was so kind and helpful. He even helped us order a traditional Japanese lunch.
For the first two hours, this tour was a 1*. It was not much more than transportation. Read the fine print. I have taken literally dozens of Viator tours, airport, hotel and cruise transport services. Our driver Sakoka was a very kind and safe driver, we liked him very much. No English language skills and very little knowledge of the destinations we visited. The fine print says they will provide in advance a detailed downloadable pdf of our stops. No such pdf was sent. After 1.5 hours of WhatsApp texts with the tour operator, a readable pdf was sent which provided some information.. if you are interested in transportation services only, this would be a good choice. If you want a tour with a knowledgeable guide, look for other options.
The driver was excellent but we signed up for an English speaking driver however the driver we had spoke no English. We had to use a translation app which was slow, painful and not terribly accurate. Not the drivers fault, he tried very hard to be accommodating but I will never book with this company again.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that the communication experience did not meet your expectations and caused frustration during your tour. At the same time, we sincerely appreciate your kind comments regarding the driver’s efforts and accommodating attitude throughout the day. As stated on the product page and in the pre-tour information materials, this service is operated by a Japanese-speaking driver, with communication support provided through translation apps when needed. We understand, however, that the “English - Written” language setting on the Viator platform may sometimes create different expectations regarding spoken English support. We truly regret the disappointment this caused and appreciate your honest feedback, which helps us continue improving the clarity of our tour descriptions and communication for future travelers. Thank you again for choosing our service during your visit to Japan.
We booked a private tour specifically with an English-speaking guide and were sent a confirmation photo of that guide in advance. However, a different guide arrived who did not speak English, which significantly impacted the experience and did not match the service we paid for. This is a clear case of the tour not being delivered as advertised. We are requesting a partial refund to reflect the reduced value of the experience.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. However, we would like to clarify that we did not provide or confirm an English-speaking guide for this booking, nor did we send any confirmation photo of such a guide in advance. As stated on the product page and in the pre-tour information materials, this service is operated by a Japanese-speaking driver, with communication support provided through translation apps when needed. We understand that the “English - Written” language setting on the Viator platform may sometimes create confusion regarding the type of language support included, and we sincerely regret any misunderstanding this may have caused. However, there was no intention to mislead regarding the nature of the service provided. We appreciate your feedback and will continue working to make our service descriptions even clearer for future travelers.
We did not realize that we had not booked a guide with this tour. It was just a taxi driver who had limited English and knew our itinerary. The driver was very nice and with the help of giigle translator we managed to have a good time on the trip. I know this was probably my error but it would have been nice it the lack of guide had been more obvious with booking.
Thank you very much for sharing your feedback and experience with us. We are glad to hear that, despite the misunderstanding regarding the guide service, you were still able to enjoy your day and that the driver helped make the experience pleasant and comfortable. As stated on the product page and in the information materials sent before the tour, this service is operated by a Japanese-speaking driver rather than a licensed tour guide. Communication support is provided through translation apps when needed. We understand, however, that this may not have been clear enough during the booking process, especially on the Viator platform, and we truly appreciate your honest feedback regarding this point. We are continuously working to make our tour descriptions and pre-tour information easier to understand in order to avoid misunderstandings for future travelers. Thank you again for your understanding and for choosing our service during your visit to Japan.
Kagoshima is just beautiful! An unexpected gem and one of the real highlight destinations on our cruise. Pity we ventured to Jeju Island rather than another day here or Nagasaki.
Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are truly happy to hear that Kagoshima became one of the highlight destinations of your cruise. The beautiful scenery, unique atmosphere, and rich culture of southern Japan can make a very special impression, and we are delighted that you enjoyed your time there so much. We are also honored that you wished you could have spent even more time in Kagoshima and Nagasaki. Japan has many wonderful port destinations, and we hope you will have another opportunity to explore even more of them in the future. Thank you again for choosing our service during your visit to Japan, and we hope to welcome you back again someday!
Our guide was very accommodating and gave us many good explanations about all the sights, he responded to our wishes and gave us an unforgettable day... thank you very much!
Thank you very much for your kind review. We are delighted to hear that you had such a memorable experience and that your guide was able to provide clear explanations while accommodating your wishes throughout the day. Your feedback means a lot to us, and we are very pleased that you were able to enjoy a truly special time. We will be sure to share your kind words with the driver—it will certainly make their day. Thank you again for choosing our service. We hope to welcome you again on your next visit.
Kikuchi-san was an excellent driver and guide. He was very accommodating, patient, polite and helpful. His professionalism was evident in the direction and instructions as he highlighted all the sites. He also takes great pictures!!! Most of all, with my anxiety of missing the ship, Kikuchi-san got us back in time to do some shopping in the terminal pop-ups. Arigato gozaimasu!!!
Thank you very much for your wonderful review. We are truly delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience with Kikuchi. Your kind words about his professionalism, attentiveness, and helpful guidance mean a great deal to us. We are especially pleased to know that he was able to make you feel comfortable and at ease, particularly regarding your concern about returning to the ship on time. Ensuring a stress-free and reliable experience for our guests is always our top priority. It’s also great to hear that you enjoyed the photos he took—he will be very happy to know that! We will be sure to share your kind feedback with Kikuchi-san. Thank you again for choosing our service, and we hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Japan.
Kagoshima is a city with beautiful nature around it, especially the Sakurajima volcano and the Sengan garden. Unfortunately we had bad weather and we could not enjoy beautiful views from and on the volcano... That made the day a bit less beautiful... We did the hot lava water foot bath and the volcano field walk! Well eaten in the Sengan garden and made a nice walk...
Thank you very much for your kind review. We’re sorry to hear that the weather was not ideal during your visit, but we’re glad you were still able to enjoy experiences such as the lava foot bath, the volcanic walk, and your time at Sengan-en. Kagoshima offers many beautiful views, and we hope you’ll have another chance to visit on a clearer day to fully enjoy the scenery, especially around Sakurajima. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again in the future.
We had a wonderful day with Tanaka. He was courteous, attentive and charming. He took us to the most amazing restaurant for lunch and a wonderful tour of the world Heritage Sengan-en gardens. We couldn’t have asked for a better person..
Thank you very much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you had such a great day with our driver. He will be very happy to know that his service made your experience so special. We’re also glad you enjoyed the restaurant and your visit to the World Heritage site Sengan-en. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we truly appreciate your feedback. We hope to welcome you again in the future.
