Sakurajima

One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Sakurajima sits just four kilometers across the bay from downtown Kagoshima, close enough that the city regularly receives dustings of volcanic ash. A 1914 eruption was so massive it connected the formerly separate island to the Osumi Peninsula by lava flow. Visitors can drive or cycle around the base, stopping at observation points, lava trails, and a foot onsen heated by geothermal activity. The 15-minute ferry from Kagoshima port runs around the clock and is an experience in itself, with the volcano growing steadily larger on approach.