Kagoshima's cuisine is also known as Satsuma Cuisine (ŽF–€—¿—, Satsuma Ryōri) after the old name of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is one of the most distinct local cuisines because of Kagoshima's isolated location at the southern end of Kyushu. Travelers may notice some influences of Okinawa cuisine, as Okinawa was controlled by Satsuma for a few hundred years in the past. A wide variety of restaurants can be found in downtown Kagoshima, for example along Gourmet-dori ("Gourmet Street").
Satsumaage
Popular across the country, Satsumaage is one of the most famous dishes of Kagoshima. It mostly consists of a paste of minced fish that is then deep fried. The type of fish used in the paste can vary, but is often bonito, mackerel or sardines. Some other ingredients are also included in small quantities to add a bit of flavor, such as pickled ginger and vegetables.
Kibinago
Kibinago is a small herring fish that is typically served raw as sashimi with a vinegared soybean paste. Sometimes called "silver sprat" in English, kibinago are about 10 centimeters long and are often used as bait for tuna.
Torisashi
Torisashi is raw chicken ("tori" in Japanese). Readers may recognize the "sashi" in torisashi from sashimi (thinly sliced raw seafood). Needless to say, the chicken must be served very fresh. Both the meat of the bird and the heart are often served. The dish is usually accompanied by ground ginger and soy sauce, which is used as a dipping sauce.
Tonkotsu
Tonkotsu is a stew made with pork and miso that is served with vegetables, such as daikon and konnyaku. The pork is cooked very slowly so that it becomes very soft and the bones can also be eaten. A large amount of shochu is added into the broth as well, which gives tonkotsu a slightly sweet flavour in addition to the savory taste of the meat and miso.
Kurobuta and Kuroushi
Kurobuta and Kuroushi literally mean, respectively, "black pork" and "black beef". The name comes from the color of the animal's skin, not from the actual meat itself. The Kurobuta are Berkshire pork that were originally imported to Kagoshima about 400 years ago, while the Kuroushi were bred in Kagoshima. Many shops will prominently advertise either Kurobuta or Kuroushi as one of their dishes. Kurobuta is often eaten as tonkatsu (breaded, deep fried pork cutlet, see photo) or shabu shabu (a hot pot of thinly sliced meat and vegetables), while Kuroushi can be enjoyed as a traditional Western steak.
Satsuma Shochu
Shochu is a clear, distilled liquor with an alcohol content of about 25%, which is popular across Japan, but especially in Kyushu. The shochu that is unique to Kagoshima is made from local sweet potatoes (satsumaimo). Restaurants in Kagoshima will often have a variety of Satsuma Shochu on offer. It can be enjoyed straight, on the rocks (with ice) or mixed with hot water. Shochu is also used in cooking.
Featuring an open-air natural hot spring bath overlooking Sakurajima Volcano and the sea, SHIROYAMA HOTEL kagoshima offers a spa centre, 7 dining options and a concierge. Rooms have free wired internet. Some rooms come with a view of Sakurajima volcano and Kinko-wan Bay. All are equipped with an LCD TV with satellite channels, a fridge and a safe. The spa at SHIROYAMA HOTEL kagoshima offers a mist sauna, a flower bath and massage treatments. Guests can also enjoy karaoke and shopping. Restaurant Le Ciel offers panoramic city views and Western food, while other restaurants serve Japanese and Chinese specialities. Castle Park houses its own bakery and brewery. A free bus circulates between SHIROYAMA HOTEL kagoshima, JR Kagoshima Chuo Station and downtown area Tenmonkan, both a 10-minute drive away.
Featuring an on-site bar and public baths, Hotel Gran Cerezo Kagoshima offers free WiFi throughout the property. Private parking is available on site. Kagoshima Chuo Station is a 7-minute tram ride. All air-conditioned rooms are fitted with a flat-screen TV and electric kettle. Amenities include toothbrushes, pajamas, refrigerator and desk. Featuring views of Sakurajima Island, an on-site restaurant Kizuna serves Japanese and Western-style dishes prepared with local produces. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk that offers free luggage storage. The entire property is non-smoking and guests can smoke in the designated smoking area. For guests' convenience, a drinks vending machine is provided. Tenmonkan Park is a 7-minute stroll away from Hotel Gran Cerezo Kagoshima and Water Front Park is situated a 10-minute drive away.
Featuring 4-star accommodation, FAV HOTEL KAGOSHIMACHUO is set in Kagoshima, less than 1 km from Kagoshima Chuo Station and 2.9 km from Kagoshima Station. The 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free WiFi. The hotel has family rooms. All guest rooms at the hotel come with a flat-screen TV and a kitchenette. At FAV HOTEL KAGOSHIMACHUO the rooms come with bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Museum of the Meiji Restoration, St. Xavier Church and Terukuni Shrine. The nearest airport is Kagoshima Airport, 38 km from FAV HOTEL KAGOSHIMACHUO.
Gracias is a self-catering accommodation located in Kagoshima, just a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminals offering high speed boats and ferries to Yakushima and Sakurajima. Air-conditioned apartments are fitted with a flat-screen TV, a balcony and a full kitchen with a microwave, a refrigerator and a stovetop. Private bathrooms are equipped with a hairdryer, a bath and slippers. Each apartment also comes with a view of Sakurajima. Gracias Apartment is within a 2-minute walk from the nearest convenience store, a cafe and a restaurant, while JR Kagoshima Station is a 15-minute walk away. Kagoshimachuo Station is a 20-minute tram ride away, while Kagoshima Airport is located 28 km away. No meals are served on site.
Featuring 4-star accommodation, Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan PREMIER - former Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan is situated in Kagoshima, 1.8 km from Kagoshima Chuo Station and 2 km from Kagoshima Station. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Minato Odori Park is 1.1 km away and Kagoshima City Museum of Art is less than 1 km from the hotel. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan PREMIER - former Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan the rooms include bed linen and towels. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet or a continental breakfast. Popular points of interest near Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan PREMIER - former Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan include Museum of the Meiji Restoration, St. Xavier Church and Terukuni Shrine. The nearest airport is Kagoshima Airport, 38 km from the hotel.
Hostel Tomal is located in Kagoshima, within less than 1 km of Terukuni Shrine and a 10-minute walk of St. Xavier Church. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The property is non-smoking and is set 2.6 km from Kagoshima Chuo Station. All rooms have a shared bathroom fitted with a shower and a hairdryer, while selected rooms also offer a kitchen equipped with a fridge. Popular points of interest near the hostel include Kagoshima Station, Minato Odori Park and Kagoshima City Museum of Art. The nearest airport is Kagoshima Airport, 39 km from Hostel Tomal.
Opened in 2012, Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kagoshima is just a 2-minute walk from JR Kagoshima-Chuo Train Station and features a French restaurant and massage services. Its modern rooms impress with a 4-star decor and a spacious shower room with a bathtub. Free WiFi is available throughout the premises. Polished wood panelling, soft lights and plush carpets await guests in the rooms at Kagoshima Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel. Each room has an LCD TV with channels including CNN and China Central Television (CCTV), a fridge and an electric kettle with green tea, and the bathing area and toilet are separated for improved hygiene. Some rooms have views of Sakurajima volcano. The hotel is a 5-minute drive from the Ishin Furusato-kan Museum, which focuses on the Meiji Restoration. Sengan-en Japanese Garden is 6 km away. A free-use internet PC can be found at the lobby, and the 24-hour front desk offers laptops to guests at a surcharge. A coin launderette is available for use. A Japanese/Western breakfast is served for an extra fee at Kuwahara Restaurant, where French course lunches and dinners can also be enjoyed.
Featuring 4-star accommodation, Henn na Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan is located in Kagoshima, 1.8 km from Kagoshima Station and 500 metres from St. Xavier Church. Featuring a restaurant, the 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The property is non-smoking and is situated 1.7 km from Kagoshima Chuo Station. Rooms include a shared bathroom with a bath or shower, free toiletries and slippers. At the hotel rooms have a desk and a flat-screen TV. Guests at Henn na Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan can enjoy an ? la carte breakfast. The accommodation can conveniently provide information at the reception to help guests to get around the area. Popular points of interest near Henn na Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan include Terukuni Shrine, Minato Odori Park and Museum of the Meiji Restoration. The nearest airport is Kagoshima Airport, 38 km from the hotel.
Situated 9.1 km from Kagoshima Chuo Station, Apartment Hotel Ecott features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking. Some units are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, washing machine and a kettle, as well as a kitchen. A terrace is available for guests to use at the aparthotel. Kagoshima Station is 10 km from Apartment Hotel Ecott, while Kagoshima Municipal Science Hall is 6.8 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kagoshima Airport, 49 km from the accommodation.
Directly connected to JR Kagoshima Chuo Shinkansen (bullet train) Station, JR Kyushu Hotel Kagoshima offers modern guest rooms with free Wi-Fi in 2 separate towers. Local Kagoshima cuisine can be savoured at the on-site restaurant. All rooms at JR Kyushu Hotel feature an LCD TV, air conditioning, air purifier and a small fridge. A hairdryer and toiletries are included in the en suite bathroom. Free luggage storage services are offered at the front desk. In-room massages and dry-cleanings can be arranged. There are also coin laundrettes and free-use internet PCs on site. Ekitei Satsuma restaurant serves traditional Kagoshima specialties, as well as other Japanese dishes. A hearty breakfast buffet is also offered there. Guests can reach Sakurajima in 30 minutes by bus and ferry. The hotel is a 7-minute drive from Terukuni Shrine, and a 13-minute drive from Senganen Garden. Kagoshima Aquarium is a 6-minute drive away. Kagoshima Airport is a 40-minute drive away.
