What to See in Ibusuki

01

Sunamushi Kaikan Saraku & Healthy Land

砂むし会館砂楽 & ヘルシーランド
These are the 2 most famous spots for 砂蒸し sunamushi (sand bathing). Saraku Sand Bath Hall is probably the most well-known spot. Healthyland tends to get slightly better ratings. If you plan on doing sunamushi – and let’s face it, if you’re going to Ibusuki, you’re 99.9% going expressly for this purpose – chances are you’ll end up at one of these places.

What to See in Ibusuki

Sand Bath Hall Saraku

4.5

476 Reviews

: Kagoshima Pref. Ibusukishi Yunohama 5-25-18

: 0993233900

: 8:30-21:00 (Information desk…

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02

Cape Nagasakibana

長崎鼻
This is a famous lookout point with a breathtaking view of the ocean and nearby Mount Kaimondake. The locals affectionately call the volcano “Satsuma Fuji” – Satsuma being the old name of the area. Definitely don’t forget to bring your camera.

What to See in Ibusuki

Travel Guide

03

Nagasakibana Shrine

長崎鼻神社
While you’re at Nagasakibana, be sure to check out Ryūgū Shrine. The shrine is one of several locations around Japan associated with an 8th century (Nara Period) fairy tale about a fisherman named Urashima Tarō. In the legend, Tarō meets the Dragon King. The name of this shrine literally means “Dragon Shrine.”

Cape Nagasakibana

: Kagoshima Ibusuki-shi Yamagawaokachiyogamizu

: 0993222111

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04

Satsuma Denshōkan

薩摩伝承館
This is a museum dedicated to the history of Satsuma Domain and its role in the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shōgunate in 1868. The museum also has an extensive collection of local ceramics called Satsuma-yaki. Even if you’re not interested in history, the architecture is really cool. It’s designed in a traditional Japanese style and looks like it’s floating in a small lake. It’s super photogenic on both the inside and outside.

Satsuma Denshokan

4.5

61 Reviews

: Kagoshima Pref. Ibusukishi Higashikata 12131-4

: 0993230211

: [Friday-Tuesday]9:00-18:00(L…

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05

Flower Park Kagoshima

フラワーパークかごしま
This is a popular garden that displays about 2,400 species of plants, focusing on flowers. It’s meticulously maintained and was designed to allow visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature with a striking view of Mt. Kaimondake and Kinkō Bay in the background.

Flower Park Kagoshima

4.0

102 Reviews

: Kagoshima Pref. Ibusukishi Yamagawaokachogamizu 1611

: 0993353333

: 9:00-17:00

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06

Chiran Buke Yashiki Dōri

知覧武家屋敷通り
The Chiran Samurai Residence Street is a 700 meter street lined with preserved samurai houses. The houses are maintained by families so unfortunately and you can’t enter them, however 7 homes have beautiful Edo Period gardens which are open to the public. You can buy a pass to see the gardens at the northern access point to the street. Be sure to check out the vending machines which have been made to look like they’re also from the Edo Period.

Chiran Samurai Residence Garden

: Kagoshima Pref. Minamikyushushi Chiranchoukori 6198

: 0993587878

: 9:00-17:00

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07

Chiran Tokkō-Heiwa-Kaikan

知覧特攻平和会館
The Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots, as the Japanese don’t say kamikaze) is dedicated to the history and first accounts of kamikaze pilots and their families. In the final days of WWII as US Forces made their way northward towards mainland Japan, Chiran Airbase served as the launch point for suicide attacks against the US Navy. The museum honors the memory 1,036 pilots and features a few WWII era planes, including a Mitsubishi Zero. (If you’re wondering about the name, the Japanese don’t call these pilots “kamikaze,” they use the euphemistic “tokkōtai” which means “special attack corp”).

Chiran Peace Museum

4.5

712 Reviews