Cherry blossoms frame a steamy hot spring in Beppu, Japan, with a red torii gate, lush greenery and visitors walking along a path.

Kagoshima, Japan

Cruises to Kagoshima

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Things to do in Kagoshima

Nestled on the southwestern tip of Japan’s Kyushu Island, Kagoshima is a picturesque coastal city famous for its striking views of the active Sakurajima volcano across the bay that’s erupted 30 times. When you visit Kagoshima with Princess, you can walk in the footsteps of samurai by visiting their historic homes, visit a traditional Shinto shrine dedicated to a leader of the legendary Satsuma clan and explore traditional Japanese gardens.

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  • View through a wooden gate of Terukuni Shrine in Kagoshima, showing the main hall adorned with purple banners and traditional emblems.

    Visit the Terukuni Shrine that’s dedicated to Shimazu Nariakira, the 28th lord of the Satsuma clan where you can see a massive torii gate (a staple feature in Shinto shrines) and a crane-shaped tree. 

  • Sakurajima volcano viewed from the water, with smoke rising from its peak and the coastline of Kagoshima visible below.

    No trip to Kagoshima is complete without seeing Mt. Sakurajima — an active volcano that’s had 30 major eruptions but none since 1914. 

  • Three traditional samurai armors displayed in a museum, each with distinct helmets and ornate designs.

    Don’t miss the Shoko Shuseikan Museum that’s housed in the oldest Western-style factory in the country and is home to seven centuries of samurai artifacts.

  • Traditional Japanese samurai house with wooden frames, a tiled roof and a serene garden path.

    Step into history at the Chiran samurai houses where over 500 historic homes are meticulously preserved, and you can see exactly how the samurai of the Edo Era lived.

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Shore excursions to explore Kagoshima

Stand at the base of a conical volcano, walk in the footsteps of samurai, take a relaxing sand bath and maybe spot a glimpse of the magical lake monster Issie when you visit Kagoshima with Princess.

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  • Evening view of downtown Kagoshima, Japan with cars, buses and a retro green tram traveling through a lively street lined with shops and lit buildings.

    Best of Kagoshima

    See an active volcano, historic samurai artifacts and pristine Japanese gardens all in one day! You’ll start your tour out on a boat headed for the towering Mt. Sakurajima — the volcano that dominates Kagoshima Bay — where you’ll journey up to the clouds to see the crater spread out below you. Then you’ll wander the historic Iso Garden that used to belong to Japanese aristocracy during the time of the samurai. Speaking of samurai, you’ll also have time to wander the museum that holds over seven centuries of Shimazu clan artifacts, including Japan’s oldest photography silver plate and a model of a furnace. 

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  • Aerial view of Lake Ikeda in Kagoshima, Japan, with green fields, scattered homes and Mt. Kaimon’s cone-shaped peak in the background.

    Chiran Samurai Houses, Lake Ikeda & Satsuma Peninsula

    Walk in the footsteps of some of the most historic samurai in Japan. Head to the samurai house in Chiran — nicknamed the “Little Kyoto of Satsuma" because it’s home to over 500 Edo period samurai homes. After you’ve immersed yourself in 17th–18th century samurai history, you’ll go to Lake Ikeda, which is a stunning ancient volcano caldera turned lake. Keep your eyes peeled for Issie — a Japanese lake monster akin to Nessie. If it isn’t cloudy, make sure to capture a few photos of the Mt. Kaimon volcano that looks a lot like Mt. Fuji. 

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  • Woman buried in warm black sand up to her neck with a towel around her shoulders, relaxing during a hot sand bath in Ibusuki, Japan.

    Ibusuki Sand Bath & Chiran Samurai Houses

    Relax in a one-of-a-kind sensory experience: a sand bath. During your bath, you’ll be covered in warm sand up to your neck and cocooned for a little while. Doing so can help increase blood flow, which can boost circulation and give your skin a little extra love. After you’ve soaked in the sand, you’ll shower off and get to try the traditional Japanese bath, the onsen. 

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  • Terukuni Shrine in Kagoshima, Japan, seen from stone steps, with traditional wooden architecture and green trees in the background.

    Museum of the Meiji Restoration & Terukuni Shrine

    Experience the Meiji Restoration for yourself by exploring this museum housed inside of the first Western-style factory ever built in Japan. The Meiji Restoration was a pivotal moment in history when Japan shifted from the age of samurais to an industrialized, unified nation — and Shoko Shuseikan Museum shows you what that looked like. See models of the first Western-style furnaces in Japan and some of the oldest photography supplies. After the museum, you’ll head to the Terukuni Shrine, a stunning shrine dedicated to Shimazu Nariakira, the 28th lord of the Satsuma clan. 

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  • Rows of large black ceramic jars covered with plastic sit on the ground outdoors, used for aging black vinegar in Kagoshima, Japan.

    Kinko Bay Highlights: Shrines, Volcano and Vinegar Fields

    Japanese black vinegar has been heralded as a culinary staple and cultural icon, and you can see how it's made. Explore the expansive “pot fields” where the freshly made jars of vinegar are set out to age for six months. Plus, this excursion will also take you to the Terukuni Shrine where you can walk under a massive torii gate and tree trimmed to look like a crane — the symbol of the Satsuma clan.

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Experience the Kagoshima port on your next cruise

Experience the beauty of Kagoshima on your Japan cruise. This port city has a little of everything: jawdropping mountains, pristine lakes, samurai history and beautiful traditional Shinto shrine. You’ll stand in the shadow of an active volcano and see the beauty of a lake formed from an extinct volcano. When you cruise to Japan with Princess, Kagoshima is just the beginning — there are more ports like Tokyo, Kyoto, Okinawa and more to discover in Japan! 

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14-Day Grand Japan with Fall Foliage

Roundtrip from Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan

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7-Day Japan & Korea

Roundtrip from Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan

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10-Day Circle Japan

Roundtrip from Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan

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Discover the volcanic beauty of  Kagoshima with Princess Cruises

Kagoshima used to be a volcanic island, but after years of eruptions, it’s a peninsula. When you visit with Princess, we’ll show you the towering volcano that still stands and the one now filled in by a lake — as well as the history that makes Kagoshima so important to Japan. 

Cruises to Kagoshima
Framed view of Kagoshima, Japan with smoke rising from Sakurajima volcano, set against a blue sky above the bay and city buildings.

Take in the explosive beauty of Kagoshima as smoke rises from Sakurajima volcano above the vibrant city below.

Ships sailing to Kagoshima

Sailing to Kagoshima with Princess means relaxing on the deck of a stunning ship, eating the best food you can find on the sea and top-notch entertainment for the whole family. 

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Diamond Princess

Diamond Princess®

With a Japanese bathhouse onboard and cultural programming to match, Diamond Princess® brings a deeper sense of place to your time at sea.

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Sapphire Princess

Sapphire Princess®

This ship pairs thoughtful service with wide-open ocean views in a fitting prelude to the misty beauty of Beppu.

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    Airplane to Ship Transfer

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  • Cruise Plus hotel packages

    Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

    Extend your cruise vacation and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the representative’s services.

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