Culinary & Hot Spring Paradise, Kagoshima

A short 10-minute walk from Kagoshima’s largest downtown, Tenmonkan, is a place where you can relax in undiluted natural spring water. Kirishima Onsen is celebrating its 78th year of opening this year and is the oldest standing public bath constructed with wood in Kagoshima City. Reputed to provide beautifying water that “relieves fatigue” and is “gentle on the skin”, the bathhouse has been a popular spot among local regulars. The ceiling of the dressing room is made of Akita cedar, and the tiles in the bathroom are made of Arita ware, giving it a retro feel and stirring up a sense of journey. Along with a sauna, it’s a great place to heal yourself from a long day of sightseeing.
 

KIRISHIMA ONSEN
Address: 6-20 Nishi Sengoku-chō, Kagoshima City
Phone: 099.222.4311
Openinn hours : 6am–10pm
Closed: Varies
Parking: Available
Price: Age 13+, ¥460; Age 6-12, ¥150; Under 6, ¥80
Water Types: Chloride, untreated
Digital Payments: Unsupported
Languages: Partially translated
 

After resetting our psyches with the hot spring and sauna, we headed to Kikaku Sushi. Founded in 1948, this sushi bar is known for adding a little culinary magic to the seasonal local seafood. Sitting at the bar with a beautiful tallow tree counter, you can marvel at the chefs’ intricate craftsmanship up close while delighting in the wonderfully hand-pressed sushi. The restaurant’s Ippon-Jime shōchū is only offered here and has been a favorite for many spirit lovers in the town. Our next stop is Gyu do! Honten. This Wagyu beef specialty restaurant is owned by the ranch Fukunaga Chikusan in Satsuma Town, Kagoshima Prefecture. Their branded Satsuma Fukunaga beef is specially aged for nearly 50 days using their proprietary method. Enjoy aged cuts that exude beef’s natural savoriness and sweetness that is also healthy with its low-fat content.
 

Kikakusushi
Address: 3-29 Higashi Sengoku-chō, Kagoshima City
Phone: 099.223.3338
Opnoing hours: 11am–3pm (Last call 2:30pm), 5–9:30pm (9pm); Sun & Holidays, 11am–9pm (8:30pm)
Closed: Open daily
Parking: Unavailable
Instagram：@kikakusushi
Booking: Available
Digital Payments: Credit cards, e-money, barcode
Languages: Support available
Cost Per Person: ¥2,000+

Aged Barbeque Restaurant Gyu do! Main Shop
Address: 12-13 Higashisengokucho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Phone: 099.223.2044
Instagram：@gyudohonten
 

This farm-owned barbecue restaurant uses Wagyu beef produced on its own ranch, Ozaki Farm in Ichiki-Kushikino City. Their beef is known for its pronounced umami and smooth marbling that gives it a pleasant mouthfeel. If you want to try different bits of rare cuts, the platter is a great option. These various mouthwatering beefs will never let you get bored until the last piece, so why not dig in and find your favorite cut.
 

BAKURO KAGOSHIMA
Address: 33-14 Uenosono-chō, Kagoshima City
 

If you’re looking for a chill session in a secret bar-style atmosphere, Yuragi Cocktail Cre8 is the place to be. From fruit-based cocktails made with seasonal ingredients to rare whiskey and vintage bottles, they’ve got a great selection. Most unique cocktails offered here use Kagoshima’s specialties, such as Tankan citrus from Yakushima Island and Annō sweet potato from Tanegashima Island. The food menu is no slouch either; both sweet and savory items are prepared with a unique twist. Homemade Melty Chocolate and Braised Pork are some of them. So, come sit at this impressive single-slab bar and spend some decadent downtime to yourself.
 

YURAGI: COCKTAIL CRE8
Address: Kōen Biru Bldg, Floor 1, 9-5 Sennichi-chō, Kagoshima City
Phone: 099.222.9639
Opning hours: 6pm–3am (Next day); Sun & holidays, 6pm–2am (Next day)
Closed: Check the website under news section
Parking: Unavailable
Booking: Unavailable
Digital Payments: Credit cards
Languages: English
Cost Per Person: ¥5,000
 
 

It’s well past bedtime, but you crave something. Then, there’s no better time to treat yourself with a bowl of Kagoshima Ramen. Open until 3:30 am in the morning, the celebrated noodle shop, Ramen Kokinta, is almost always crowded with a cue lining up outside. The noodle soups offered here look like one of those thick, pork broth tonkotsu ramen at a first glance, but with one slurp, you will be quickly hooked on how gentle it is. The secret is in its soup, which is based on pork and chicken bones and is mixed in with mackerel, bonito, and a few more seafood. The shop’s original char siu slices are added on top for a final touch. Half-sized fried rice is a must side dish which you can add to any choice of ramen.
 

Ramen Kokinta
11-5 Hinoguchicho, Kagoshima City
 

A ramen shop known for char siu that are made using pork jowl, a rare cut you can only harvest 300 grams of it from one pig. The soup is exquisite and made by combining different stocks: one is based on pork and chicken bones, which gives a delicate taste than it looks, and the other a traditional Japanese stock that packs rich flavors.　It blends so well with the medium-thick, straight, firm noodles, along with soft-boiled eggs made by being steeped in a secret homemade sauce.
 

Kagoshima Ramen Tontoro - Tenmonkan Main Restaurant
9-41 Yamanokuchicho, Kagoshima City


 

About: Ha Seungok　
Born in 1967 in the southern city of South Korea. Ha’s career followed working at Tokyo office of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), lecturer for Yomiuri Culture Center and Minaminippon Living Shimbun, and more. Currently, Ha is a part-time instructor at Kagoshima University and Shigakukan University, while also teaching at a Korean language school. Her hobbies are traveling and reading Korean books.
 

Ha’s Comment　
I was genuinely surprised by just how many bathhouses are out there where you can just casually come in and hop in natural hot spring water. Having a conversation with sushi chef while relishing nigiri zushi served right at the sushi bar was a fun, rare experience. Barhopping is definitely something that is going to be a memorable highlight of a trip. Seeing how people line up for a bowl of Kagoshima Ramen also made me realize its depth as a local food culture.