To see the scenic west coast of Kagoshima, take the 「Hisatsu-Orange Railway」, a superb train that runs
along the coastline, for a train window trip from Satsumasendai to Izumi.
We recommend getting off at
one of the stations that adorn
the area along the line and taking a stroll.
The sunset that vividly colors the East China Sea and the summer mandarin orange fields along the
line.
You can fully enjoy the spectacular scenery unique to the west coast of Kyushu, which is
well suited to such orange scenery, on
the Hisatsu-Orange Railway, which connects Satsumasendai City in Kagoshima and Yatsushiro City in
Kumamoto.
If you find a station along the line that you like, feel free to get off the train and
enjoy the local specialties, natural
scenery, and cuisine of that town.
This is the best part of traveling on the Hisatsu-Orange
Railway.
"Orange Shokudo" is a sightseeing train that runs only on weekends and holidays. It is a "running
seaside restaurant" where you can enjoy the spectacular scenery as well as gourmet foods only
available on the train, which make use of seasonal
ingredients from the coastline along the route.
The ever-changing scenery of the beautiful west
coast of Kyushu provides a comfortable train window trip where you can enjoy a relaxing slow-life
journey with local gourmet.
KEYWORD of TRAVEL
Akune, a seaside station, is a port town where you can enjoy fresh seafood. In
particular, the purple sea urchin caught in Akune from April to May is a true jewel of the sea
with its rich flavor and creamy sweetness.
Please enjoy
the deep and elegant taste of sea urchin from Akune with sushi or sea urchin donburi.
Departure station "Satsumasendai" is birthplace of Kagoshima's local delicacy,
kibinago.
Kibinago is a fantastic fish that does not appear on the market very often because
it loses its freshness quickly.
The most recommended
way of eating is sashimi, although it is delicious any way you eat it, such as grilled with
salt, deep-fried, tempura, or soup. The best way to enjoy it is as sashimi, served with miso and
vinegar.
A popular retreat space in Akune, a famous producer of sweet summer oranges.
Visitors can experience strolling through seasonal gardens and harvesting fruit trees and
herbs.
The nature-filled observation terrace offers a variety
of menu items such as strawberry parfait and toast produced at "Farm Garden Sora. Enjoy a
relaxing time on the terrace sofa while admiring the beautiful flowers.
It takes 50 minutes by high-speed boat from Kawauchi Port at Kawauchi Station, the first station of
Hisatsu-Orange Railway.
Three islands, Kamikoshiki Island, Nakakoshiki Island, and Shimokoshiki
Island, are connected vertically, and
the scenic beauty of Koshiki Island has been designated as a national park.
The island's
slow-flowing island time, untouched nature, and traditional culture preserved by the islanders give
peace of mind and excitement to travelers
visiting the island. Koshiki Island is a place where you can discover something new every time you
visit.
Interacting with islanders who smile kindly at you in a village that retains its old-fashioned
atmosphere. Stargazing at night in the silence with only the sound of the waves and wind in your
ears.
The charm of the Koshiki Island trip
is that you will realize once again that each of these is a very luxurious and precious time.
KEYWORD of TRAVEL
The sandbar, 50m wide and 4km long, was formed by sea breeze after foot of
Kamikoshiki Island collapsed due to ancient wind and waves. It is a scenic spot where you can
experience the mystery of nature with the magnificent view formed
over a long period of time.
From the observatory, you can see the white sandbar along the
scenic Kamikoshiki Island floating on the azure sea.
A cruising experience that takes you around the cliffs where you can see huge and
strange rocks rising out of the sea and geological formations that were formed 80 million years
ago from the Cretaceous Period, and encounter dynamic
and prehistoric romantic nature.
You will be overwhelmed by the wild and beautiful
sculptures of nature, which are different from the view from land.
In Koshiki Island, where the fishing industry thrives, you can enjoy fresh seafood
nurtured by the Kuroshio Current all year round. Kaisen-don, a bowl of rice topped with seafood,
is a luxurious dish full of happiness.
Satsuma sweet
shrimp, a specialty of Shimokoshiki Island, is characterized by its plump texture and rich
sweetness. It can be enjoyed as sashimi or deep-fried.
400 years ago. Located on the border between Kagoshima and Kumamoto, which are connected by the
Satsuma Highway, Izumi was an important defense base and prospered greatly as a castle town.
Even today, the samurai residences of the
Satsuma warriors of that time still remain, and the area has been selected as one of Japan's
Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Important Traditional Buildings.
The town is
neatly laid out like a grid, and the stone
walls show the frugal and sturdy spirit of the Satsuma warriors.
Izumi sightseeing oxcart, which takes about 25 min, is recommended for sightseeing. Enjoy a graceful
stroll around the Izumi Foothills as if you were a lord or princess of Satsuma.
The guide will
tell you about the architectural style
and highlights of Izumi-Ruku samurai houses, so you can learn more about the history of Kagoshima
Prefecture.
KEYWORD of TRAVEL
Of the approximately 150 existing samurai residences, two are open to the
public.
Visitors are invited to tour samurai residences, which are characterized by their
high quality and solidity, and to think about the thoughts and lifestyles
of the Satsuma warriors of the past.
Why don't you take the opportunity to walk around the streets in kimono, which still
retain traces of the Edo period? At the Demizu Buke Yashiki, you can try on a kimono.
You can
choose a kimono and obi with the pattern of your
choice and look the way you want to. Walking around elegant samurai residences in kimono, you
will feel like you have stepped back in time 400 years!
A local delicacy of Izumi City, using luxurious chicken meat and eggs from Izumi,
one of Japan's leading producers of chicken and chicken eggs. It can be enjoyed at four
restaurants in Izumi City.
This is a chicken-oriented menu
unique to Izumi, the "City of Chickens," with juicy chicken steaks grilled on the spot, rice
with eggs produced in Izumi, chicken salad and egg soup.
Izumi is the largest crane migration site in Japan, with more than 10,000 cranes migrating to the
area every year from October to December for overwintering. The number and variety of these cranes
is said to be the largest in Japan, and
they are designated as a national natural monument.
The sight of these cranes spreading their
wings and fluttering gracefully across the sky is a winter wonder you will not see anywhere else.
The wintering site of Izumi cranes was registered as the first Ramsar Convention wetland in
Japan.
In Izumi City, various environmental projects are being promoted to practice the three
foundations of "Conservation - Restoration", "Wise
Use", and "Exchange - Learning" of the wetlands, which all provide various blessings to life.
KEYWORD of TRAVEL
This observation center stands in front of the reclaimed land where cranes live.
From the rooftop observatory, you can observe the graceful dance of the cranes, grooming their
feathers, and feeding on their food.
The best time to
visit is from 6:00 to 7:00 every morning. The silhouette of about 10,000 cranes flying in unison
in search of food amidst the morning glow is a breathtakingly elegant and beautiful sight.
The Crane Museum is the only crane museum in Japan where visitors can learn about
the detailed ecology of cranes as well as the relationship between cranes and people.
Through
exhibits such as stuffed cranes from around the world,
wood carvings, and videos, the museum provides a place to learn about and become familiar with
cranes and other wild birds and nature in Izumi.
Park attached to the Crane Museum. It has a barrier-free wooden deck, a tree house,
and over 17,000 seasonal flowers and trees planted.
The "Wild Bird Forest" has been
maintained in as natural a state as possible, making it a place
where many wild birds and other animals can be observed.
Kagoshima Prefecture, long from north to south, is characterized by a wide range of climatic zones,
from the snowy "Isa City" in the north to the subtropical "Amami Islands" in the south. The complex
and diverse climatic environment is
home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Within the diverse climatic zones of Kagoshima
Prefecture, we can discover a Japan that we have not yet found.
Here we will introduce you to Isa
City, the northernmost city in Kagoshima
Prefecture.
About 30 minutes by car from "Isa Station" of Hisatsu-Orange Railway, you will reach "Isa", the
northernmost part of Kagoshima.
Blessed with beautiful nature and water, Isa is a city where
rice and vegetables are very delicious.
It
is also famous for its snowfall, which is rare in the mild climate of Kagoshima. Cherry blossoms in
spring, deep green in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snowy landscape in winter. No matter when
you visit, you can feel the beauty
of the four seasons.
KEYWORD of TRAVEL
Boasting a spectacular scale, this is the largest waterfall in Kagoshima, called the
"Niagara of the East". The roaring sound of the water as it flows down the rock face of the
Senjo-iwa Rock is so powerful that it takes your breath
away.
In spring, cherry blossoms add color to the scenery, and in the rainy season of summer, the
volume of water increases, creating spectacular sight. In the fall, autumn leaves and gingko
trees float on the waterfall's surface,
enchanting people in every season.
1.5km downstream of Sogi Falls, a modern industrial heritage site that still retains
a strong trace of the Meiji era. Completed about 110 years ago, it laid the foundation of
Japan's chemical industry.
The site is now submerged
under water and cannot be seen, but only during the drought season from May to September, a
brick building reminiscent of a medieval European castle comes into view.
With borrowed view of Sogi Falls, this popular restaurant offers Isa's local cuisine
and souvenirs.
You can enjoy dishes made with Isa rice, Kurobuta pork, Jidori chicken, local
vegetables, buckwheat flour, and other ingredients.
In particular, the Hokusatsu specialty "soba jui," a slow-cooked dish of fresh vegetables
and handmade buckwheat noodles, is a must-try when visiting Isa City.
