Why Kagoshima Surprised Me

The first time I visited Kagoshima, I went because of history.

I was fascinated by the Meiji Restoration, Satsuma, and the people who helped push Japan into the modern age. But Kagoshima turned out to be much larger than the image I had in my head.

It was not only Kagoshima City, Sakurajima, or the history of Satsuma.

It was Yakushima.
It was Amami Oshima.
It was Tokunoshima.
It was Okinoerabu Island.

In this first Kagoshima episode, I look back on how my image of the prefecture changed: from history, to a surprisingly lively city, to islands that stretch far into the sea.

Full Hiroshima series:
https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTokyo47

BEYOND TOKYO
All 47 prefectures. Actually visited.
History, hidden places, and food across Japan.

#Kagoshima #JapanTravel #BeyondTokyo #Yakushima #AmamiOshima #Tokunoshima #Okinoerabu #Sakurajima

Additional image credits:
– Sakurajima_from_kagoshima.jpg by Douglas Perkins (Douglaspperkins), Wikimedia Commons, Public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sakurajima_from_kagoshima.jpg
– Statue of Saigo Takamori in Kagoshima.jpg by Andō Teru (1892-1945), Wikimedia Commons, Public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_Saigo_Takamori_in_Kagoshima.jpg
– Ōkubo Toshimichi 1872 (cropped).jpg, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C5%8Ckubo_Toshimichi_1872_(cropped).jpg
– Ferris wheel and Amu Plaza Kagoshima.jpg by 663highland, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ferris_wheel_and_Amu_Plaza_Kagoshima.jpg
– 800 Series in Kagoshima-Chuo.jpg by Kazehayashi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:800_Series_in_Kagoshima-Chuo.jpg