This is my fourth time in Kagoshima.
During my Kyushu round trip, I first came here to go to Yakushima.
But I fell in love with the charm of Kurobuta(Kagoshima’s black pork) and shōchū,
and since then, it has become a place I visit again whenever I have time.
Out of my four trips to Kagoshima,
I stayed at the same hotel three times.
If I visit Kagoshima again, I’ll definitely stay at the same place.
That’s how much I like this hotel.
Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever written a separate post just about a hotel,
but this one is a big part of my Kagoshima trips.
On the top of the small mountain called Shiroyama,
there is Shiroyama Park and an observatory.
Many people visit here once during their Kagoshima trip.
It’s only about 100 meters high,
but from the observatory, you can see the whole Kagoshima city below
and Sakurajima beyond the bay.
This view is, in fact, one of the most iconic images of Kagoshima.
Shiroyama Hotel is located right next to that observatory.
Yes, that’s right – the same famous view of Kagoshima
is actually the hotel’s own view.
Its greatest strength is definitely this “view.”
The hotel is large and has a wide area,
so you can take walks around it.
And from every spot along those walking paths,
you can see Sakurajima changing its appearance throughout the day.
All the photos of Sakurajima in this post
were taken entirely from Shiroyama Hotel.
You can see so many different moods and lights.
On the 3rd floor of the hotel,
there is an onsen called Satsuma-no-Yu.
Guests can use it for free.
There’s also a large outdoor bath,
and from that open-air bath, you can enjoy this same view –
soaking your body in the warm water
while watching Sakurajima in the distance.
You can wake up early and see the sunrise beside Sakurajima from the bath.
On a chilly rainy day, you can watch the volcano half-hidden by clouds.
After visiting Sengan-en,
you can relax in the onsen and look over the night view of Kagoshima city.
Maybe that’s why this onsen was ranked No.2 in the “Onsen General Election”
for two years in a row – 2024 and 2025.
This onsen is the main reason
why I always choose this hotel when planning my Kagoshima trips.
Especially for solo travelers like me,
this hotel is very attractive because
weekday room rates can be quite cheap.
Including breakfast, it’s often under $80 per night.
A four-star hotel – though in my heart, it’s a five-star –
with breakfast and onsen included,
that price is really hard to beat.
The hotel has about 14 restaurants,
including a bar and lounge, French, Italian, teppanyaki, and sushi.
It’s probably the biggest and most famous hotel in Kagoshima.
Even the Emperor and Empress once stayed here.
Of course, the staff are all very kind,
and there are several Korean staff members,
so communication is never a problem.
The hotel’s biggest strength is also its only weakness.
Because it’s located on a hill,
it’s not easy to go down to the city center.
There’s a shuttle bus every 30 minutes,
so if you plan ahead, it’s not a big problem.
But if you drink and stay out late,
you’ll need to take a taxi back.
And if you miss the bus on a cold night,
you’ll end up waiting 30 minutes on the street –
definitely a downside.
Still, despite that, I’m sure I’ll stay here again next time.
The pros easily outweigh the cons.
If I’m in a hurry, I’ll just take a taxi.
Because I can’t miss that view of Sakurajima from the onsen.
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