Moopon

1. Once visitors exit immigration and customs at Kansai Airport, visitors will be on the 1st floor. Follow the signs for “Railways”, taking one of the 4 escalators or 3 elevators to arrive at the 2nd floor.

2. Once on the 2nd floor, follow the signs to one of several walkways and walk across the road to Kansai-airport Station. Visitors need to exit the air terminal building to arrive at the JR Station (two separate buildings connected by a walkway). Two train companies use Kansai-airport Station: JR (blue/green) and Nankai (orange). Only JR can take visitor to the platform Haruka departing from. DO NOT use Nankai.

3. Before entering tickets gate, find JR Ticket Office where visitors can purchase ticket or reserved ticket for JR train.(there is a huge sign in English above their head).JR ticket office staff may or may not speak English, but they can read place names and train types written in the Roman alphabet. 

4. With one’s tickets, go through JR ticket gate and take an escalator to get to Platform 4.

The Mazda Motor Corporation　was founded in Hiroshima in 1920. It still keeps its corporate headquarters in the city of its birth place. Besides the headquarters, Mazda possesses a large plot of coastal land which accommodates R&D (research and development) laboratories, factories, and shipping facilities. The company museum and part of a factory are made available to visitors.

Although Mazda is not as large as Toyota, Mazda plays a large role in Hiroshima's economy, like Toyota dose to Nagoya.  Producing over a million cars a year, It is an innovative player in the Japanese auto industry. For instance, in 1991 Mazda became the first and only Japanese company to win the Le Mans Grand Prix with 787B. Mazda continues efforts to create more efficient vehicles include improving its version of rotary engines.

Reservations are required for the Mazda Museum tour and can be made by telephone or via its website, the URL is below. Reservations can be made up to a year beforehand. Tours for individual travelers are offered once a day in English and Japanese.

Visitors to the museum are first gathered at the Mazda head office building. When the tour is scheduled to begin, a Mazda tour guide leads visitors onto a bus to take them to the museum building on the close to grounds of Mazda's Hiroshima Plant.

The museum offers a　digest of Mazda's history, such as a look into the expectancy for its future developments and the technology of its automobiles. The tour then goes through an actual vehicle assembly line, where a variety of different car models being produced. Final location is a shop where Mazda goods are sold. The tour takes a total of 90 minutes.

Access Information

From the JR Hiroshima Station, board a local train to Mukainada（向洋） Station. The one-way journey takes about 5minutes with a cost of 190yen. From arrival station the Mazda Head Office can be reached in a five minute walk.

Facility Information

Tours of the Mazda Museum and Factory are held daily, except weekends and company holidays. The starting time of the English tour is at 10:00 and the Japanese tour at 13:30. The full-length of the tours is around 90 minutes. The tour is free of charge, but a reservation must be made in advance by phone or e-mail.

Mazda official site for reservation http://www.mazda.com/en/about/museum/reservations/

After crossing the Kintai-kyo Bridge, visitors are greeted by the statue of the man who initiated the bridge's construction, Kikkawa Hiroyoshi, the third lord of Iwakuni. In the area behind the statue, there are a number of sites of interest centered around Kikko Park, a spacious park with walking paths, plants and fountains.

Kikko Shrine is the family shrine of Iwakuni's powerful Kikkawa family. The shrine was constructed in 1884, and is situated above the living quarters of the family's former residence.  It was designated as a cultural asset of national importance in 2004.

Kikko Park and its various attractions are located a few steps from Kintai-kyo Bridge.
Buses travel from both Iwakuni Station and Shin-Iwakuni Station to Kintai-kyo bus stop. The trip takes 20 minutes and costs 250 yen from Iwakuni Station (buses every 5-15 minutes), or 15 minutes and 290 yen from Shin-Iwakuni Station (2-3 buses per hour)."

Kikko Shrine
Hours: 7:00 to 17:00
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free

Omori Town is a one and a half kilometer long stretch of houses, shops, temples, and shrines that runs along the river valley to the north of the mines. It used to house magistrates, merchants, and craftsmen who benefited from the nearby mines.
It also has a world cultural heritage site; the Iwami Ginzan.

Today there are many historical sites interspersed among the homes of the town's current residents. Among them are the Former Government Office which has been restored as the Iwami Ginzan Museum, and numerous historical residences.

The largest and most spectacular of these is the Kumagai Family Residence near the Tourist Center in the north of town. Once the home of the leading merchant and town official, it has been restored to be an excellent example of a period household.

Some of the shrines and temples in the area are particularly interesting. Kigami Shrine at the north end of town has a dragon painting on its ceiling that echoes like the roar of the dragon when you clap your hands under it. Shogenji Temple looks fairly ordinary from the outside but inside houses a beautifully painted main hall and altar, and also has a small museum.

Gohyakurakan are 500 stone statues of Buddha's disciples housed in a series of man-made caves. Their postures and facial expressions run the entire gamut of emotions and are very interesting to see.

The central bus stop, Omori Daikansho (Omori Former Government Office), is served by all buses, providing connections along Omori Town and to the parking lot at the Sekaiisan Center (every 15 minutes), to Oda-shi Station (1-2 buses per hour), Nima Station (about 5 buses per day) and Hiroshima (2 buses per day).

Omori Town can also be reached on foot from the parking lot: It takes about 20-30 minutes to walk to the town's southern end around the Gohyakurakan via a nature trail shortcut and an additional 15-20 minutes (without stops) to reach the town's northern end around the Former Government Office.


Former Government Office (Iwami Ginzan Museum)
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
Closed: December 29 to January 4, irregularly around special exhibitions
Admission: 500 yen (former government office only)
1000 yen (also includes Kumagai Residence, Kawashima Residence and Sekaiisan Center)
Kumagai Residence
Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
Closed: Last Tuesday of every month (or the next day if Tuesday is a holiday), Dec 29 to Jan 3
Admission: 500 yen (residence only)
1000 yen (also includes Former Goverment Office, Kawashima Residence and Sekaiisan Center)

Kawashima Residence
Hours: 9:00 to 16:30
Closed: New Year holidays
Admission: 200 yen (residence only)
1000 yen (also includes Former Goverment Office, Kumagai Residence and Sekaiisan Center)

Gohyakurakan
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closed: Irregular closing days
Admission: 500 yen

Shogenji Temple
Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (December to February until 16:00)
Closed: Wednesdays and temporary closures
Admission: 400 yen

Kigami Shrine
Hours: Always open
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free

Tsuwano is one of several cities across Japan nicknamed "Small Kyoto". The reason for the comparison is Tsuwano's old town which features some preserved historic buildings and keeps an atmosphere reminiscent of past centuries. The highlight is the Tonomachi district where one street block of the former samurai district is particularly well preserved with earthen walls, historic buildings and a water canal filled with carps.

About Morijuku Art Museum
This approximately 150 year old building is the former residence of the local town head, refurbished and opened as an art museum. Visitors can explore the historic house and watch its interesting interior design. A part of the house is designated as art space, exhibiting Western style paintings by Akira Nakao and Maya Yoshiura, two local artists.

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closed: December 29 to January 1
Admission: 500 yen

Known as the “Olive Island”, Shodoshima Island, located in the Seto Inland Sea off the coast of the Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku, is the birthing place of olive cultivation in Japan. Being blessed with a Mediterranean climate, the island successfully grew olives in 1908. Since then, Shodoshima olives and olive oil are highly regarded throughout Japan.

Olive Park, a tourist attraction site, is a working olive grove where the first olives were grown.  Visitors can enjoy the walkways throughout the hillside surrounded by olive trees.  Within the park is a windmill presented to the park from Milos, Greece.

Visitors interested in olive cultivation best visit the small museum within Olive Park.  In addition, there is a restaurant, a cafe and some shops which allow visitors to sample as well as purchase olive related merchandise such as olive oil, olive candy, olive cosmetics, olive noodles and olive ice cream. 
Olive Museum and Shops
Hours: 8:30 to 17:00
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: Free

Sun Olive is a hot springs bathhouse within the park. The baths are separated by gender with eight different types of baths.  Some of the baths allows bathers to enjoy beautiful views while soaking in the natural hot springs.
Sun Olive Bath House
Hours: 12:00 to 21:45 (entry until 21:00)
Closed: Wednesdays (except national holidays) and New Year holidays
Admission: 700 yen

Access Information:
Via Bus
From Tonosho Port, board a bus bond for Sakate (坂手), Fukuda Port (福田港) or Eigamura (映画村). There are 2 buses every hour. The bus fare is 560 yen (one way) and it should take about 25 minutes. Disembark at Olive ga Oka (オリーブヶ丘) bus stop.  Olive Park is a short walk from the bus stop.
From Kusakabe Port, board a bus bound for Tonosho Port (土庄港). There are 2 buses every hour. The bus fare is 210 yen (one way) and it should take about 5 minutes. Disembark at Olive ga Oka (オリーブヶ丘) bus stop.  Olive Park is a short walk from the bus stop.
From Fukuda Port, board a bus bound for Tonosho Port (土庄港) along the island's southern coast (南廻り福田線). There is 1 bus every 2 hour. The bus fare is 780 yen (one way) and it should take about 40 minutes. Disembark at Olive ga Oka (オリーブヶ丘) bus stop.  Olive Park is a short walk from the bus stop.

Via Car or Taxi
From Tonosho Port, the journey should take about 20 minutes.  The taxi cost should be about 4000 yen.
From Kusakabe Port, the journey should take about 5 minutes.  The taxi cost should be about 1200 yen.

Sengan-en Garden (仙巌園), also known as Isoteien (磯庭園), is a Japanese style landscape garden along the coast north of downtown Kagoshima.The use of Sakurajima and Kagoshima Bay bring amazing landscape as borrowed scenery is one of the garden’s most striking feature. The garden also includes small ponds, streams, shrines and a bamboo grove.
Sengan-en was built in 1658 by the wealthy Shimazu Clan, one of the most powerful feudal clans during the Edo Period (1603-1867). The Shimazu ruled the Satsuma domain (today Kagoshima) for almost 700 years until the end of the feudal age in 1868. They continued to be influential into the modern era as some of the earliest adopters of Western science and technology.

At the center of the garden stands the Iso Residence. The residence was originally constructed in 1658 along with the rest of the garden, but the current building mostly dates back to a rebuild of the mid 1880s. The Iso Residence became the main residence of the Shimazu family after the end of the feudal age, and its rooms are preserved in the way they were used in the 1890s. The inside of the residence can only be seen on a paid tour that includes tea and a snack at the end.
Sengan-en has a variety of trees and plants that make the garden scenery amusing in all four seasons. There are a number of cherry trees, especially of the early flowering kanhizakura variety, which open as early as late January. Other cherry tree varieties give flowers through mid April.

Outside the main garden area, but included in the admission price, stands a long stone building that used to serve as one of the earliest Western style machinery factories in Japan. Today it houses the Shoko Shusei-kan Museum with exhibits about the culture and maritime activities of the Shimizu Clan and the early factory and machines which contributed toward Japan's modernization in the 1800s.

Access info
Sengan-en can be reached by the Kagoshima City View bus to Senganen -mae bus stop (every 30 minutes, 190 yen per ride. A 1 day pass available for 600 yen.). The bus can be boarded at Kagoshima Chuo Station, the Shiroyama Observatory, Kagoshima Aquarium and some other tourist spots.
Schedule & cost

Hours: 8:30 to 17:30
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 1000 yen (additional 600 yen for tour through Iso Residence)

 

Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes and is the symbol of Kagoshima.


The volcano emits smoke constantly, and minor eruptions often occur many times per day.


Located in the middle of Kagoshima Bay, Sakurajima is the area's most splendid geographic feature,

having an elevation of 1117 meters and a circumference of about 50 kilometers.
 

Before a strong eruption in 1914, Sakurajima used to be an island in the bay,

but the massive lava flow from that eruption created the volcano's current land connection to the Osumi Peninsula in the east.


However For a great number of travelers the volcano is still most easily accessed by the ferries that run the 3.5

kilometers between Kagoshima Port and the Sakurajima Ferry Terminal.
 

Sakurajima has three main peaks: Kita-dake(peak) (, 1117 meters),

Naka-dake (1060 meters) and Minami-dake (1040 meters).


The Minami-dake peak is currently the most active,

with a lot of eruptions taking place from the Showa Crater on the peak's eastern slope.


Approaching within two kilometers of the volcano's craters is banned,

but there are many observation points around Sakurajima where eruptions can be seen from about three kilometers away.
 

Access information

In Sakurajima

Travelers visiting Sakurajima can find many attractions just around the Ferry Terminal,

including an onsen, foot baths, short hiking trails and an information center.


Those who would like to further explore the volcano should travel by rental car,

which can be taken across the water from Kagoshima by the ferries.

Sightseeing buses, regular buses and rental bicycles are other possible methods of travel.


The way up to Sakurajima

Kagoshima and Sakurajima are connected around the clock by frequent ferries.

The one way ride takes 15 minute and costs 160 yen.

The ferry terminal is a ten minute walk from JR Kagoshima Station or a five minute walk from the Suizokukan-guchi tram stop,

and is also served by the City View Buses.

The way up to around Sakurajima

The easiest way to travel around Sakurajima is by rental car,

which can be taken onto the ferry (1150 yen one way for 3-4 meter long cars; 1600 yen one way for 4-5 meter long cars).

Driving once around the coast of Sakurajima takes about an hour.

Many car rental outlets are found in the city center and at the airport.


There is some transportation for travelers who want to travel around Sakurajima,

like a loop bus, the Sakurajima Island View Bus,

that operates hourly from the ferry terminal to the Yunohira observation point and back.


The fare depends on the distance traveled or is 500 yen for a 1-day pass.

Instead,sightseeing bus tours are available for Sakurajima (3-4 hours, about 2500 yen) or in combination with Kagoshima (6 hours, about 4000 yen).

 

There are also regular city buses that run infrequently from the ferry terminal along the northern

coast (departures every 1-3 hours) and along the southern coast (departures every 40-90 minutes) of Sakurajima.

 

Nagisa Lava Trail

About three kilometers of walking trails connects Nagisa Lava park with Karasujima Observation Point along the water beside the Sakurajima Ferry Terminal.


The trail cuts through a lava zone created by the powerful eruption of 1914.

That burned every grasses and plants.

However, travelers can observe the growth of grasses and short plants nowadays.
 

Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes and is the symbol of Kagoshima.
 

The volcano emits smoke constantly, and minor eruptions often occur many times per day.
 

Located in the middle of Kagoshima Bay, Sakurajima is the area's most splendid geographic feature,

having an elevation of 1117 meters and a circumference of about 50 kilometers.

 

Access info

From Sakurajima Ferry Terminal: 10-minute walk 

From bus stop “visitor center”: 1-minute walk
 

The way up to Sakurajima

Kagoshima and Sakurajima are connected around the clock by frequent ferries.

The one way ride takes 15 minute and costs 160 yen.

The ferry terminal is a ten minute walk from JR Kagoshima Station or a five minute walk from the Suizokukan-guchi tram stop,

and is also served by the City View Buses.


 

These pleasant foot baths are a great place to take a break observing Sakurajima.


The baths are very long and stretch for dozens of meters.

From the baths there are also respectable views onto the bay and across the water to Kagoshima City.

A towel can be purchased at visitor center near the park.


Admission: Free
 

Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes and is the symbol of Kagoshima.

The volcano emits smoke constantly, and minor eruptions often occur many times per day.


Located in the middle of Kagoshima Bay, Sakurajima is the area's most splendid geographic feature as it is located in the middle of Kagoshima Bay.


It has an elevation of 1117 meters and a circumference of about 50 kilometers.
 

A Powerful eruption happened and burned everything in 1914, however, grasses and plants are growing these days.
 

Access information
 

In Sakurajima

Travelers visiting Sakurajima can find many attractions just around the Ferry Terminal,

including an onsen, foot baths, short hiking trails and an information center.
 

Those who would like to further explore the volcano should travel by rental car,

which can be taken across the water from Kagoshima by the ferries.

Sightseeing buses, regular buses and rental bicycles are other possible methods of travel.
 

The way up to Sakurajima

Kagoshima and Sakurajima are connected around the clock by frequent ferries.

The one way ride takes 15 minute and costs 160 yen.


The ferry terminal is a ten minute walk from JR Kagoshima Station or a five minute walk from the Suizokukan-guchi tram stop,

and is also served by the City View Buses.


There are also regular city buses that run infrequently from the ferry terminal along the northern coast (departures every 1-3 hours)

and along the southern coast (departures every 40-90 minutes) of Sakurajima.

 

Sakurajima Visitor Center

You can learn about Sakurajima there.


It simply exhibits and explains the history and nature to understand Sakurajima deeply.

In the pavilion, which consists of nine parts,

the history of Sakurajima and the transition of plants,

sightseeing information and disaster-prevention activities are available.


You can experience the active volcano Sakurajima over the hi-vision theater, the diorama and our computer programs.


Much of the information is provided in English and Chinese.


It is right next to the Sakurajima ferry terminal
 

Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 

Admission: Free 

Closed: No closing days

Etc: Barrier-free, WC, Souvenir shop

 

About Sakurajima

Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes and is the symbol of Kagoshima.

The volcano emits smoke constantly, and minor eruptions often occur many times per day.


Located in the middle of Kagoshima Bay, Sakurajima is the area's most splendid geographic feature as it is located in the middle of Kagoshima Bay.

It has an elevation of 1117 meters and a circumference of about 50 kilometers.

A Powerful eruption happened and burned everything in 1914, however, grasses and plants are growing these days.
 

Access information
 

In Sakurajima

Travelers visiting Sakurajima can find many attractions just around the Ferry Terminal,

including an onsen, foot baths, short hiking trails and an information center.


Those who would like to further explore the volcano should travel by rental car, which can be taken across the water from Kagoshima by the ferries.

Sightseeing buses, regular buses and rental bicycles are other possible methods of travel.
 

The way up to Sakurajima

Kagoshima and Sakurajima are connected around the clock by frequent ferries.


The one way ride takes 15 minute and costs 160 yen.


The ferry terminal is a ten minute walk from JR Kagoshima Station or a five minute walk from the Suizokukan-guchi tram stop,


and is also served by the City View Buses.



There are also regular city buses that run infrequently from the ferry terminal along the northern coast(departures every 1-3 hours)

and along the southern coast (departures every 40-90 minutes) of Sakurajima.