Sakurajima E-bike Tour Led by a Local Guide

【STORY】

Sakurajima, which is said to be the symbol of Kagoshima, is a rare volcano in the world that still emits smoke and rains ash. Located about 20 minutes from the city where people live, nurtured by untouched nature and the history of volcanic eruptions.
Why do people still live in such places?
There, local residents live in symbiosis with the volcano, benefiting from the geographical features and mineral-rich sea created by the historic eruption. Rento Oshikawa, your local guide, of the NPO Sakurajima Museum, who thinks of Sakurajima as a museum and works to convey the charm of Sakurajima, left Kagoshima once, but returned after rediscovering the charm of Sakurajima, one of the world's leading active volcanoes.
Learn why Sakurajima is called "the museum of vegetation" with him, and tour the lives of people living in harmony with the volcano on an E-bike.

【HIGHLIGHTS】

• [Getting to know Sakurajima] Learn about Sakurajima from a local guide who knows Sakurajima thoroughly. They will introduce the history of the magnificent nature created by the great eruption of Sakurajima.

• [Experience the beauty of Sakurajima, one of the world's most active volcanoes]Ride an E-bike and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kinko Bay and Sakurajima.

• [Break time to taste the food of Sakurajima]Enjoy local snacks and mandarin black tea at the Yunohira Observatory where you can see Sakurajima closest.

• [Visiting and experiencing local industries that live in harmony with volcanoes]Experience volcanic ash art with a potter who values ​​encounters with customers.
  

【SCHEDULE】

[9:00]　[intro] "E-bike rental and explanation of how to operate the E-bike (Rainbow Sakurajima)

[9:20]　Information about the volcano Sakurajima and route from the guide (Visitor Center)

[9:45]　Fill your water bottle with small mandarin orange tea and finally start! (Minato Cafe)

[10:00]　Experience the scenery of Sakurajima seen from above and the life that lives there (Minato Cafe ~ Yunotaira Observatory)

[10:40]　[Break time] (Yunotaira Observatory)
How long have people been living in Sakurajima while enjoying camellia oil sweets, a specialty of Sakurajima? Ask your local guide why people still love Sakurajima and continue to live there.

[11:10]　Photo time at a scenic point with Sakurajima in the background (Yunotaira Observatory ~ Sakuradake Ceramics)　

[11:40]　[Local culture experience] Experience volcanic ash art with a craftsman who values ​​encounters with customers (Sakuradake Ceramics)

[12:30]　Feel the sea breeze while riding an E-bike! (Sakuradake Ceramics ~ Rainbow Sakurajima)

[12:45]　[review] Look back on your experience and disbanded after a friendly exchange of opinions."

【EXPERIENCE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION】

●Minato Cafe
A new cafe that was completed with the support of many people through crowdfunding in Minato.
Pick up snacks and small mandarin orange tea at a cafe, which offers a menu unique to Sakurajima.

● Yunohira Observatory
It is the highest point on Sakurajima that the general public can enter. View the rough surface of Mt. Kitadake, the Taisho lava field below, and the cityscape of Kagoshima City, the largest city in southern Kyushu, spread out to the west across Kinko Bay.

●Sakuradake Pottery
About 50 years have passed since the creation of Sakurajima-yaki, pottery made using volcanic ash for the first time. Experience volcanic ash art with a craftsman who values ​​encounters with customers.
The Kagoshima people's nuisance "volcanic ash" is colorfully colored and used as sand art.

【THINGS TO NOTE】

• Duration：4 hours
• Meeting point：The Rainbow Sakurajima [MAP]
  1722-16, Sakurajimayokoyama-cho, Kagoshima-shi, Kagoshima, 891-1419
  
• Access：
  By train：
  【train】Kagoshima Chuo stn.---Kagoshima stn. (5-minute)＞【walk】Kagoshima stn.---Kagoshma Port Ferry Terminal (7-minute)＞【ferry】Kagoshma Port Ferry Terminal ---Sakurajima Port (15-minute)＞【walk】Sakurajima Port---Accommodation (8-minute)
  
  By bus：
  【bus】Kagoshima Chuo stn.---Kagoshima aquarium (suizokukan) entrance (15-minute)＞【walk】Kagoshima aquarium (suizokukan) entrance ---Kagoshma Port Ferry Terminal (5-minute)＞【ferry】Kagoshma Port Ferry Terminal ---Sakurajima Port (15-minute)＞【walk】Sakurajima Port---Accommodation (8-minute)
  
• Minimum number of participants：2 people
  
• Language support：Japanese, English (optional)
• Included：
  ・E-bike rental fee
  ・Guide fee
  ・Snack
  ・Small mandarin orange tea fee
  ・Sakuradake pottery experience fee
  ・Insurance
  
• Excluded：
  ・English guide fee (optional)
  
• Items to bring：
  ・A thermal water bottle 
  ・ID (driver's license, passport, etc. with your name and address on it)A thermal water bottle 
  
• Clothes：Clothes that are easy to move in and can get dirty
  
• Participation requirements：
  ・Those who can ride a bicycle without any problems.
  ・E-bikes can be comfortably used by people between 144 and 185 cm tall, but please contact us if your height is outside of the 144 to 185 cm range.
  ・Not recommended for travelers with back problems.
  ・Not recommended for pregnant travelers.
  
• Free WI-FI：No
• Toilet：Yes (Western-style)
• Other things to note：
  ●Notes on participation:
  In order to participate in the tour on the day, you will be asked to sign the following liability form.
  Click here for the form.
  Please note that if you do not agree with the contents, you will not be able to participate.
  
  ● About insurance:
  We recommend that customers take out voluntary travel accident insurance in case of an accident.
  
  ●Regarding the decision to cancel the tour due to bad weather:
  If it is difficult to ride an E-bike due to bad weather, you can cancel for a full refund, or for the same price, a tour of the Yunohira Observatory (including snacks and volcanic ash art) will be carried out with a guide on the Sightseeing Taxi instead of the E-bike.
  *During peak season, cab reservations may not be available, in which case we will contact you the afternoon of the day before to cancel the tour.
  In such cases, we will contact you by phone at least 3 hours prior to the start of the tour.
  
  Please note the following precautions during the tour:
  If case of sudden weather conditions change during the tour and it becomes dangerous to conduct the tour, it may be suspended at the discretion of the guide.
  In this case, the tour fee will not be refunded.
  Please be careful on roads covered with volcanic ash, as they are slippery.
  Sakurajima is designated as Kirishima-Kinko Bay National Park. Please be considerate so that the beautiful nature can be preserved forever.
  Accidents will be covered by insurance.
  If you lose the key, you will be charged an additional 3,000 yen.
  In the event of damage or breakdown of rental bikes by the user, the user is responsible for the cost of the damage or breakdown and will be billed for the actual cost at a later date.

【CANCELLATION POLICY】

7 to 4 days before the tour date: 40% of the tour price
3 to 2 days before the tour date: 60% of the tour price
The day before the tour date, on the day of the tour: 100% of the tour price