Roadside Station Sakurajima

Underneath Sakurajima, a cloud of smoke billows out.
Shop for specialties of the volcanic island!

Sakurajima, the symbol of Kagoshima, is still very active. The roadside station at the foot of the island can be reached on foot from the Sakurajima ferry terminal. In the product hall, there are the world's largest Sakurajima daikon radish and pickled Sakurajima daikon, and in contrast, the world's smallest Sakurajima kokomikan, kokomikan dressing and jam. The produce hall also sells a variety of marine products such as Sakurajima hijiki (hijiki) and funori (seaweed). The dining area also offers a wide variety of tastes unique to Sakurajima. The take-out "lava parfait" is unique to Sakurajima!

Map of Roadside Station Sakurajima

Roadside Station Sakurajima Gourmet Information

Sakurajima Daikon, the most popular local product

　The local specialty, by far, is the Sakurajima daikon radish. Registered in the Guinness Book of Records, it is the largest daikon in the world. The normal size weighs 6 kilograms, and the largest weighs 30 kilograms! In fact, it is surprisingly difficult to obtain even within Kagoshima Prefecture. Of course, at roadside stations, whole daikon radishes are sold as a local product as well as cut daikon. Sakurajima daikon has less fiber than other daikon varieties and is characterized by its sweetness. Locals eat it grated or boiled.

Local product: Sakurajima small mandarin oranges

　These are very small winter oranges, measuring only 5 cm in diameter and weighing 40 to 50 grams. They are only 5 cm in diameter and weigh 40 to 50 g. Perhaps because they are so small, a single tree can produce several thousand to 20,000 fruits. Because they are close to the original type of mandarin oranges, they are highly aromatic and have a high sugar content of 13 to 15 degrees C. They are also suitable for making jam and juice. They are therefore suitable for making jams and juices. The fragrant peel is also valued as "Chenpi" in Chinese medicine. The season is winter, but processed products and soft-serve ice cream are available at the roadside station.

This is the one to eat. Sakurajima Satisfaction Set

This is a popular menu item at the roadside station's tenant restaurant, "Mother's Aji Shun. The set includes a mini bowl of rice topped with kanpachi from Kinko Bay, the largest fish catch in Japan, miso soup, fried vegetables with sweet potatoes called "gane," a local delicacy, and the main dish, udon noodles with a small mandarin orange filling. The udon is kneaded with the peel of small mandarin oranges, a specialty of Sakurajima, and is slightly tangerine in color. The chewy texture and gentle taste of komikan spreads in your mouth. It is an exquisite dish! The flavor is not only in the zaru, but also in the dashi (soup stock) udon. The restaurant is run by a staff of only women and uses no unnecessary seasonings, making it a true taste of home. 1,200 yen (tax included).

Buy this: Komikan Udon and Sakurajima Daikon Udon

I was so impressed with the Komikan Udon I tasted at a restaurant that I bought it without thinking. The quality of the Komikan Udon also made me want to try the Sakurajima Daikon Udon. It is an original product of Sakurajima Shunsaikan Co. It is made of domestic wheat flour and hand-pulled using the hand-pulling method, making it smooth and silky on the throat. The Sakurajima Daikon Udon is made by kneading whole Sakurajima daikon radish and daikon leaves into the udon. The udon noodles are lightly green in color and have a subtle sweetness from the Sakurajima daikon. Each bag contains two servings and costs 390 yen (including tax).

Let's buy this too. Pickled Sakurajima Daikon

You cannot come to Sakurajima and miss out on Sakurajima daikon. With its fine texture and high moisture content, Sakurajima daikon has a rich sweetness. It can be boiled, grilled, or pickled. For this reason, pickled Sakurajima daikon has become a standard souvenir of Sakurajima. There are various types of pickled daikon, such as shiso pickles, miso pickles, kasuzuke pickles, and yuzu pickles, depending on the manufacturer. Large-sized daikon radishes are cut into small pieces and served at home. Enjoy the crunchy texture and subtle sweetness with white rice. From left to right: shiso pickles (no coloring), shiso pickles (700 yen each), miso pickles (1,400 yen each). All prices include tax.

Around Roadside Station Sakurajima

Kinko Bay Sea Kayak and Underwater Hot Springs Exploration GEO Tour

If you want to have fun in the area

Sakurajima, an active volcano, naturally has hot springs. Even a small amount of digging on the beach will reveal underground water heated by the magma to a temperature of around 40 degrees Celsius. Of course, there are also "underwater hot springs" in Kinko Bay. Let's go sea kayaking to such underwater hot spring spots. When you put your hand in the seawater at the underwater hot spring spot, you can confirm that it is a hot spring by saying, "It is warm. There are also other programs such as sea kayaking to an uninhabited island in Kinko Bay. All of these programs are accompanied by experienced instructors, so even beginners can enjoy the experience without anxiety.