Kagoshima - Sakurajima

The last stop on my Kyushu trip: Kagoshima, November 2nd and 24 degrees. I wonder why I wore the long jeans :) Kagoshima is located in the southern part of Kyushu and is also known as Japan's Naples. This is because the volcanic island of Sakurajima is located in the bay of Kagoshima. However, since 1914 it has not been an island anymore because a huge lava flow connected the volcano with the mainland and even completely enclosed a smaller island (which is very rare for volcanoes worldwide). Sakurajima consists of two volcanoes: Kitadake (northern peak) and Minamidake (southern peak). The latter is still active and often spews volcanic ash. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Japan. Climbing the volcano is prohibited, but you can take a bus up to an elevation of 373 meters (Kitadake has an elevation of 1117 meters). In the western part of the island, there is a hiking trail through a lava landscape that was formed in 1914 during a major eruption. It is already covered with trees and other vegetation. Here, I met significantly more cats than people (to be precise, only one woman and at least 10 cats :D).

Right at the ferry port in Kagoshima is the aquarium. Outside, two dolphins swim in the water and are fed twice a day during a small show. Coincidentally, when we arrived, the second feeding began. So off we went :3

When I was back at the guesthouse in the evening and enjoying my meal, a man came up to me and asked why I wasn't at the Ohara Festival. I said that it's not until tomorrow. The guidebook gave me the wrong information. The festival, which is apparently the largest in Kyushu, lasts for two days. It is a dance festival where groups, companies, or whoever performs together in a large parade. Everyone dances the same routine. Sometimes there were Taiko drum performances in between. And of course, there were food stalls everywhere :D