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Kagoshima

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Kagoshima is a large city in Japan.

Kagoshima-Chuo Station 20180505
Kagoshima-Chuo Station 20180505

It sits on the southwestern tip of Kyushu island. The city is located near a large bay called Aira Caldera. A famous volcano named Sakurajima sits in the water nearby. Because of its bay and volcano, people call it the "Naples of the Eastern world." The city covers the northeastern part of the Satsuma Peninsula.

SakurajimaFerry
SakurajimaFerry

It is about 280 kilometers south of Fukuoka City. It is also about 180 kilometers south of Kumamoto City.

The weather in Kagoshima is very warm and humid. It has the highest average temperatures in mainland Japan. The winters are mild and relatively dry. Springs are warm and humid. Summers are hot and humid too. Autumns are mild and dry.

Ibusuki Skyline Ends
Ibusuki Skyline Ends

The city is often covered in ash from Sakurajima. This volcano can erupt and spread ash across the city. To stay safe, school children sometimes wear helmets to protect themselves from volcanic debris.

Kagoshima has a very long and interesting history. The Shimazu clan moved into the area around 1340. In 1549, a missionary named Francis Xavier landed on the coast. During the Edo period, the city became a powerful port. It was the seat of the Satsuma Domain. This land was one of the wealthiest in the country. Even when trade was banned, the city stayed busy and prosperous. It even had a special building for visitors from the Ryūkyū kingdom.

Many important things happened in this city. In 1863, the British Royal Navy bombarded Kagoshima. Later, nineteen young men from Satsuma traveled to the United Kingdom. They wanted to learn about Western science and technology. This helped start Japan's Industrial Revolution.

高見馬場 - panoramio
高見馬場 - panoramio

A famous naval leader named Tōgō Heihachirō was also born here. He became a legend in the Japanese Navy. In 1912, the city's first tram line began running. In 1914, a volcano eruption spread ash, but it did not cause much trouble.

Today, Kagoshima is a busy place for many people. As of 2020, about 595,049 people lived in the city. The city is a center for fishing, tourism, and making goods. You can visit the Kagoshima City Aquarium near the ferry terminal. There is also the Sengan-en Garden, which used to be a villa for the Shimazu clan.

JP Expressway E3
JP Expressway E3

Traveling is easy with the Kyushu Shinkansen fast train. In 2011, a new line connected the city to Hakata Station. This made the trip much faster for everyone.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Kagoshima prefecture population pyramid 2020.svg
Kagoshima prefecture population pyramid 2020.svg
File:SakurajimaFerry.jpg
SakurajimaFerry.jpg
File:Kagoshima-Chuo Station 20180505.jpg
Kagoshima-Chuo Station 20180505.jpg
File:高見馬場 - panoramio.jpg
高見馬場 - panoramio.jpg
File:Ibusuki Skyline Ends.JPG
Ibusuki Skyline Ends.JPG
File:JP Expressway E3.svg
JP Expressway E3.svg
File:JP Expressway E31.svg
JP Expressway E31.svg
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