Satsumasendai is a small city in the Kagoshima Prefecture on Kyushu’s southwestern tip. Established in 2004 with the merging of several of the surrounding towns and islands, Satsumasendai is a captivating regional city that sprawls across the velvet-green hillsides that characterize Japan’s subtropical south. Check out the collection of islands within Satsumasendai’s city limits and you’ll see lush green hills cascading into coastlines notched by white-sand beaches and rocky coves.
A good place to begin your visit is in the old town of Sendai, which marks the city’s central core. Spread across the banks of the Sendai River, Satsumasendai’s commercial hub provides a jumping-off point for visiting nearby attractions. Get an in-depth understanding of how nuclear power works at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant Museum and visit the planetarium at the Sendai Space Hall. Visit in September to see the traditional festivities for Sendai Otsunahiki, where 3,000 men compete in a giant tug-of-war game.
Experience the peaceful atmosphere in Satsumasendai’s shrines. Climb the hundreds of stairs to Nitta Shrine and you’ll be rewarded with views of the shrine’s solemn beauty. To the north, Sugawarajinja Fujikawatenjin is a botanical treasure with pretty arcades of plum trees that blossom in spring and change to fiery red in fall. More popular parklands include Iriki Fumoto Yashikigun and the Kamejo Castle Ruins. After a day of exploring, soak your muscles in a traditional onsen (hot-spring bath).
Check out the views of Satsumasendai’s Koshikijima Islands from the Tanoshiri Lookout. Catch the ferry to the islands from the neighboring city of Ichikikushikino. Explore the winding roads that weave between verdant mountain ranges and find secret coves. There are several beach resorts on the southernmost island, Shimo-koshiki. Experience the soft sands and emerald-green waters of Japan’s tropical coastline.
Satsumasendai can be easily accessed by railway and road. The city is a 1.5-hour journey from Kumamoto by train. The nearest airport is in Kagoshima to the southeast. Enjoy southern Kyushu’s mild weather and gorgeous beaches. Springtime brings pretty blossoms to the cherry and plum trees, while fall sees a blaze of reds and oranges sweep across the hillsides.
