What to Eat and Drink in Kagoshima

The cuisine of Kagoshima is known as Satsuma Cuisine, which derives from Satsuma Ryōri, the old name of Kagoshima Prefecture. Kagoshima’s cuisine is known throughout Japan for its distinctive flavours and enticing dishes which have had a chance to evolve relatively unhindered into their own unique identity thanks to Kagoshima’s remote location in southern Kyushu and the influence of Japan’s tropical island Okinawa. A trip to Kagoshima is a real treat for the tastebuds, here are some of our top things to eat in Kagoshima.

Sweet potato cakes

40 percent of Japan’s sweet potatoes, or satsuma-imo as they are known in Japan, are produced in Kagoshima. The sweet potatoes grown in Kagoshima are renowned for their sweetness, making them the perfect ingredient with which to make the delicious sweet potato cakes that can be found throughout Kagoshima. These sweet cakes make the perfect souvenir to bring back to loved ones and are also a great tasting snack to power you through your exploration of Kagoshima. The Festivalo sweets shop inside Kagoshima-Chuo Station stocks beautifully presented sweet potato cakes of every flavor from macha to chestnut.

Festivalo Amu Plaza Kagoshima

4.0

4 Reviews

Kagoshima Pref. Kagoshimashi Chuouchou 1-1 Amu Plaza main building B1F

0992542288

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Shirokuma ice

Known as Japan’s kawaii ice cream, shirokuma ice is the perfect remedy for those hot summer days, or any day really – any excuse to eat this delicious treat! Traditionally, Japanese shaved ice desserts are served up with syrups such as strawberry or melon, though this is not the case with shirokuma ice which is coated with lashings of condensed milk and fruit. Decorated into the shape of a polar bear’s face, hence the name shirokuma which means polar bear in Japanese, this is a super popular desert which has people coming from all over Japan to enjoy the nostalgic taste of Kagoshima’s twist on a Japanese summer dessert classic. Make a beeline for Temmonkammujaki which serves up a colorful array of flavored shirokuma ice which can be eaten in or taken away.

Black pork

Kurobuta, which literally translates to ‘black pork’, is a delicious Kagoshima specialty. The name comes not from the color of the meat, but of the color of the animal itself. About 400 years ago Berkshire pork, which has black skin, began to be imported into Kagoshima. The black pork has been a Kagoshima favorite ever since due to its tender meat and distinct flavor, with many shops and restaurants proudly advertising the dish on their storefronts. Black pork is mainly eaten as tonkatsu, and in some cases as shabu shabu. Ju An Arata Main Branch is the place to go to cook up your own kurobuta in a shabu shabu hot pot which you make at your own table.

Juan (Arata Restaurant)

4.5

64 Reviews

Kagoshima Pref. Kagoshimashi Arata 1-62-13

0992580555

[Weekday][Lunch]11:00-15:00(…

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Shochu

An evening in Kagoshima wouldn’t be complete without a cup of the locals’ favorite liquor: shochu. Though shochu can be made from a few different ingredients including rice, brown sugar, and barley, the shochu produced in Kagoshima is primarily made from sweet potatoes. Distilleries around the prefecture offer tours to taste this aromatic liquor while a trip to Ishizue, a shochu bar just a short walk from Temmonkandori Station, allows you to carry on your tasting into the night with a choice of over 500 different brands of shochu distilled in the Kagoshima region.

Bar Ishizue

4.5

6 Reviews

Kagoshima Kagoshima-shi Sennichicho 6-1 Tenmonkan Flower Building 4F

0992270125

19:30-3:00 the next day

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Richmond Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan

14-28 Sennichi-cho Kagoshima

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Kibinago

To try out sushi Kagoshima-style, the glittering kibinago is a must-try. This small silver-stripe herring is most commonly served up as thin slivers of sashimi perfectly complemented with a blob of miso and a slice of lemon. While kibinago is found en masse in Kagoshima Bay during spring and summer, it is available around Kagoshima at any time of year with many restaurants specializing in this sparkling silver fish. Wakana restaurant found just north of Temmonkandori Station gives fish fans the chance to get a close-up view of the chefs preparing fresh sushi dishes where you’ll find kibinago in its most popular raw form as well as grilled on a stick or fried.

天文館 吾愛人 本店

鹿児島県鹿児島市東千石町9-14

0992225559

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