How to go from Kumamoto to Kagoshima ?

 Yakushima Island is currently best-known as the model of the forests in the Studio Ghibli movie Princess Mononoke. The island, a few hours o the coast of Kyushu, is a natural wonderland, with World Heritage preservations and trees that are thousands of years old. Jomonsugi started growing in the Jomon Period and is said to be anywhere from 2000 to 7200 years old.

From Kagoshima Port, take the high-speed ferry (2-3 hours, ¥7700) or car ferry (4 hours, ¥4600), which go to either of Yakushima’s two ports, Miyanoura and Ando. Flight also go to Yakushima once daily from Kagoshima, Fukuoka, and Osaka Airports.

SAKURAJIMA
You can’t really help but see this magnificent sight if you visit Kagoshima. The cone of the active volcano, Sakurajima, is no longer an island, as a lava ow around 100 years ago connected it with the mainland. The volcano puffs away most days and sometimes you can see a layer of ash in town, if the wind is in the right (or wrong) direction. To get a closer look, take a ferry over and walk around the Nagisa Lava Trail and even have a foot bath.
Access : 15 minutes by ferry from Kagoshima, ¥160 one way.

SENGANEN GARDEN (OR ISOTEIEN)
A great place from which to view Sakurajima, with a beautiful garden in the foreground. Constructed in the mid-17th century, this house and garden belonged to the highly influential Shimazu family, rulers of the region for over 700 years. Some of the earliest-blooming cherry blossoms in Japan can be seen here, from as early as late January.
Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., ¥1000.

IBUSUKI
If you have the chance, carry on south to Ibusuki where you can partake in a sand bath and rid yourself of all impurities in a mere ten minutes!

JR KYUSHU HOTEL KAGOSHIMA JR九州ホテル鹿児島
The hotel has a convenient access to Kagoshima Chuo Station. Special discount for Japan Rail Pass holders
1-1-2, Take, Kagoshima-shi, Kagoshima, 890-0045 
Tel : 09-9213-8000/http://www.jrk-hotels.co.jp/en/Kagoshima/

NAKAZONO RYOKAN 中薗旅館 7 minutes on foot from JR Kagoshima Station. A 10-minute walk from Tenmonkan-dori, a famous shopping street.
1-18 Yasui-cho, Kagoshima, 892-0815
Tel : 09-9226-5125 / nakazonoryokan.wix.com/nakazonoryokan

JU’AN 寿庵
Ju’an serves Kagoshima’s most famous delicacy, kurobuta pork, shabu shabu style. Located directly across from Kagoshima Chuo Station, exit 1.
Open daily, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tel : 099-258-0555 

TENMONKAN MUJAKI 天文館むじゃき
This is the original store to serve shirokuma, a shaved ice treat topped with fresh fruit and a milk and honey sauce, which is now popular all over Japan. From the Tenmonkan-dori street car stop, head straight south east, towards Tenmonkan Park. Mujaki will be on the right just before the park.
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tel : 09-9222-6904 / www.mujyaki.co.jp