(城山) Shiroyama Park

A highly recommended viewing point of Kagoshima at night and of Sakurajima during the day, Shiroyama Park is a 5 minute (or half an hour) visit for anyone visiting this land down south. 

Budget: JPY0 (~USD0)

• No expense, really. 

Visit Date

• December 23, 2020 - nightview
• December 29, 2020 - sunrise
• I have done this visit as part of a week long Kyushu hikes. 

When to Go
Anytime during the year, but I'd recommend visiting for the sunrise. 

Special Notes

• As Sakurajima puffs out smoke nonstop 365 days a year, getting that perfect view may be a bit difficult, so do manage your expectations. 
• It is easy to find, just google "Shiroyama Park Kagoshima". But here's the google maps pin. 
• It says "yama" so I figured it was a mountain, but there's no summit whatsoever. At least I couldn't find it. Haha. So no, it's not a mountain. It's a hill. 

Itinerary
This is what happened for the sunrise view. We stayed at a nearby hostel.

• 06:45am. Started walking from our hostel (Koko Hostel Tenmonkan) to Shiroyama. 
• 07:02am. Arrived at the parking lot right below the observation deck. 
• 07:06am. Arrived at the observation deck, and waited for the sunrise. 
• 08:10am. Back at the hostel. 

Had to take stairs to the observatory deck. Made me wish for a bit that we just drove there. 

The view at the start of the sunrise. 

And here's the full sunrise. Unfortunately, there was no ball of fire.

Aaaaand here it is around 7pm at night.