Sakurajima, Kagoshima Local Buses Schedule

Hi All,

Where could I find local buses schedule for Sakurajima? I read only the loop bus going to Yunohira Observation Deck and it spends almost to 1 hour just for the loop. Is there any local bus that I could ride just for the Yunohira Observation Deck?

Actually, I am more interested with Kurokami Observation Point nearer to the active Showa Crater but we don't drive and I think with bikes, it could take more than 1 hour to circle the whole island going there. I don't think I could bike for that long. Is there anyone could share information about any local buses going there? Private tours only goes to either Yunohira or Arimura Observation Point.

Cheers

I had the same worry about having to wait 1h at the Observation deck. In fact, the loop bus makes a long pause there (about 15 minutes) which leaves you enough time to take pictures and come back to the bus.

Sorry, I don't have any info about the local buses to Kurokami.

In the past, there were some sightseeing bus which goes to both places. I am sorry to say there is no such buses.

As you have already noticed, this bus

https://www.kagoshima-yokanavi.jp/storage/files/shares/map/sakurajimai...

runs every 30 min and you can hop on and off to see what interest you. The main goal for this bus is Yunohira observatory and the bus take short detour but you can see recent lava field which in my opinion is more interesting than Kurokami observatory or the buried Torii Gate. You can drop off at Sakurajima Visitor Center and take some time to walk around the lava.

Hi Mellye,
Where do you find the info for 15minutes stop in Yunohira observation deck? because I see the schedule and it doesn't seem they stop. Another bus would come 30minutes later. So I've checked with the tourism centre and if you want to go to Arimura Observation Deck, a private bus Kagoshima Kotsu serves that route, 5 buses / day and it's not covered by CUTE
It is more troublesome to go to Kurokami Observation Deck with 2 local buses transfer. It could take up to hours to reach that point just for an observation deck and we could imagine it already takes 1 hour just to go to the closest one from the ferry port.

IMO the Arimura has a better view than others because it's more unobstructed but Yunohira would have the height from the tall building too. It's just according to the pics I gather online though.

Hi frog1954,
nice info for detour of the recent lava field.
'You can drop off at Sakurajima Visitor Center and take some time to walk around the lava.'
Is this the Nagisa Lava Trail you mean? I see it just like a coastal line path, might need a guide to show us about the lava terrain.

I also think the bus stops 15 min at Yunohira observatory. Though I can't find official statements but the bus timetable seems the departure at Yunohira observatory is too late, and some user's review in Japanese says it stopped about 15 min.

And yes I was talking about Sakurajima Nagisa lava trail. It is just a trail (I remember it was a paved trail) and you can look into the sea which is relatively clear. I don't think there is a free guide but if you learn in the museum (the visitor center) beforehand, you will know what to see.

Where do you find the info for 15minutes stop in Yunohira observation deck? because I see the schedule and it doesn't seem they stop.

I took that bus.
In detail, I got on at 16:11 at Karasujima Observatory (stop #5), then I have a picture at Yunohira Observatory at 16:27. I jumped back on the same bus, and it departed at 16:40, on schedule. So, about 15 minutes at the observatory. But that's maybe only true for the buses that skip the stops 7, 8 and 9.

Yes, I see some schedules that skip 3 stops afterward. That might be the reason. Unfortunately, my schedule won't fall on those schedules. Does the bus park in the parking lot and tell passengers beforehand it'd stop for 15minutes?

Yes the bus stops at the lookout for 15 minutes. And yes the timetable and driver tell you. Been there, done that.

No, it doesn't.

I think the schedule might change already? So this is the bus schedule I find on their website

https://www.kotsu-city-kagoshima.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/6e37...

There are those express bus schedule mentioned exactly on the time Mellye mentioned before but from Yunohira to the next stop is still the normal 10minutes. Is this bus schedule the same with you guys? If it is then I just assume the express schedule would still stop for 15minutes. It is important for me as I try to squeeze some time in my itinerary here even for just 15 minutes.

Completely different timetable that years ago. They were hourly services with the wait at the look out.

New timetable is more frequent services in al 30 minute intervals. I guess you get 30 minutes at the lookout now, as you'll need to wait for the next bus.

Honestly, the view from the Karasujima Observation deck was, for me, good enough. We walked there from the ferry terminal. If I had to do it again with 1 hour less on Sakurajima, I would skip the Yunohira observation deck. I would even say that the best view of the volcano was from the ferry.

Thanks for the update. I have the feeling it might not be the same timetable again. In regards to the view, I couldn't agree more. even the view from downtown in Senganen or Shiroyama might even be better. But oh well first time coming, it's hard to skip Sakurajima :D

I think the schedule might change already? So this is the bus schedule I find on their website

https://www.kotsu-city-kagoshima.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/6e37...

There are those express bus schedule mentioned exactly on the time Mellye mentioned before but from Yunohira to the next stop is still the normal 10minutes. Is this bus schedule the same with you guys? If it is then I just assume the express schedule would still stop for 15minutes. It is important for me as I try to squeeze some time in my itinerary here even for just 15 minutes.

I think the schedule might change already? So this is the bus schedule I find on their website

https://www.kotsu-city-kagoshima.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/6e37...

There are those express bus schedule mentioned exactly on the time Mellye mentioned before but from Yunohira to the next stop is still the normal 10minutes. Is this bus schedule the same with you guys? If it is then I just assume the express schedule would still stop for 15minutes. It is important for me as I try to squeeze some time in my itinerary here even for just 15 minutes.

....and the Sakurajima erupt today. I hope it'd be fine during my travel time. I thought it was Kirishima that has erupted since October but has leveled down in Nov but when I opened the article and saw Sakurajima, oh greattt