Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県,Kagoshima-ken) is aprefecture ofJapan located on the island ofKyushu and theRyukyu Islands.^[2] Kagoshima Prefecture has a population of 1,527,019 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 9,187km² (3,547sq mi). Kagoshima Prefecture bordersKumamoto Prefecture to the north andMiyazaki Prefecture to the northeast.

Kagoshima Prefecture 鹿児島県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	鹿児島県
• Rōmaji	Kagoshima-ken
View ofKagoshima City, withSakurajima in the background
Flag Emblem Logo
Anthem:Kagoshima kenmin no uta
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Island	Kyushu
Capital	Kagoshima
Subdivisions	Districts: 8,Municipalities: 43
Government
• Governor	Kōichi Shiota
Area
• Total	9,187.01 km2 (3,547.12 sq mi)
• Rank	10th
Population  (September 1, 2022)
• Total	1,564,175
• Rank	24th
• Density	170/km2 (440/sq mi)
GDP [1]
• Total	JP¥5,773 billion US$53.0 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 code	JP-46
Website	www.pref.kagoshima.jp/foreign/english/index.html
Symbols of Japan
Bird	Lidth's jay (Garrulus lidthi)
Flower	Miyamakirishima (Rhododendron kiusianum)
Tree	Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora)

Kagoshima is the capital and largest city of Kagoshima Prefecture, with other major cities includingKirishima,Kanoya, andSatsumasendai.^[3] Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southernmost point of Kyūshū and includes theSatsunan Islands group of the Ryukyu Islands. Kagoshima Prefecture's mainland territory extends from theAriake Sea to Shibushi Bay on thePacific Ocean coast, and is characterized by two largepeninsulas created byKagoshima Bay. Kagoshima Prefecture formed the core of theSatsuma Domain, ruled fromKagoshima Castle, one of the most importantJapanese domains of theEdo period and theMeiji Restoration.

Kagoshima Prefecture corresponds to the ancient Japanese provincesŌsumi andSatsuma, including the northern part of theRyukyu Islands (Satsunan).^[4] This region played a key role in theMeiji Restoration (Saigō Takamori), and the city ofKagoshima was an important naval base during Japan's 20th century wars and the home of admiralTōgō Heihachirō.More recent incidents are the sinking of a North Korean spy ship (100 ton class) in 2001 by theCoast Guard, which was later salvaged and exhibited in Tokyo, and the abduction of an office clerk from a Kagoshima beach in 1978 by agents from the same country. This became known only recently under theKoizumi administration.

The two main ethnic groups of Kagoshima Prefecture are theJapanese and theRyukyuans (Amami Islands).

Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu on theSatsuma Peninsula andŌsumi Peninsula. This prefecture also includes a chain of islands stretching further to the southwest of Kyushu for a few hundred kilometers. The most important group is theAmami Islands. Surrounded by theEast China Sea to the west,Okinawa Prefecture in the south,Kumamoto Prefecture to the north, andMiyazaki Prefecture to the east, it has 2,632 km (1,635 mi) of coastline (including the 28 islands). It has a bay calledKagoshima Bay (Kinkowan), which is sandwiched by two peninsulas,Satsuma andŌsumi. Its position made it a 'gateway' to Japan at various times in history. While Kyushu has about 13 million people, there are less than 2 million in this prefecture.

The prefecture boasts a chain of active and dormantvolcanoes, including the greatSakurajima, which towers out of the Kagoshima bay oppositeKagoshima city. A steady trickle of smoke and ash emerges from thecaldera, punctuated by louder mini-eruptions on an almost daily basis. On active days in Kagoshima city an umbrella is advisable to ward off the ash. Sakurajima is one of Japan's most active volcanoes. Major eruptions occurred in 1914, when the island mountain spilled enough material to become permanently connected to the mainland, and a lesser eruption in 1960. Volcanic materials in the soil make Sakurajima a source for recorddaikon radishes, roughly the size of abasketball. Many beaches around the Kagoshima Bay are littered with well-worn pumice stones. A crater lake in the southwestern tip of the prefecture, near the spa town ofIbusuki, is home to a rare species of giant eel.

As of 31 March 2019, 13% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated asNatural Parks, namely theAmami Guntō,Kirishima-Kinkowan,Unzen-Amakusa, andYakushima National Parks;Koshikishima andNichinan Kaigan Quasi-National Parks; andAkune,Bōnoma,Fukiagehama,Imutaike,Ōsumi Nanbu,Sendaigawa Ryūiki,Takakumayama, andTokara Rettō Prefectural Natural Parks.^[5][6]

•  
  Jōmon Sugi inYaku Island
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  Mangrove native forest inAmami Island
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  A crane observation centre in Izumi crane migration grounds
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  Ohara style folk dance in Kagoshima Ohara Festival in November
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  Sand bath style in Ibusuki Spa
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  Map of Kagoshima Prefecture

Most of the economic sector is focused in Kagoshima City and the surrounding area, corresponding to the extent of the formerSatsuma Province. The eastern part of the prefecture, the formerŌsumi Province, is mostly rural and shows a general population decline.

The prefecture has strong agricultural roots, which are reflected in its most well-known exports:green tea,sweet potato,radish, Pongeerice,Satsuma ware,Berkshire pork ("kurobuta") and local BlackWagyu beef. Kagoshima prefecture's production ofbonito flakes is second only to that ofShizuoka. In addition, it produces Japan's largest volume of unagi eels. Kagoshima is also largestbeef andpork producing prefecture in Japan.

TheJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has several facilities within the prefecture, including the country'smain launch facility onTanegashima and theUchinoura Space Center.

The prefecture'sgross domestic product is approximately 5,548.7 trillion yen, with a work force of about 791,000 people (2018)^[7]

The following is a list of Kagoshima Prefecture's cities, and its administrative districts with their constituent towns and villages:

Nineteen cities are located in Kagoshima Prefecture:

These are the towns and villages in eachdistrict:

Kagoshima Prefecture has a distinct and rich food culture. The warm weather and diverse environments allow for the agriculture and aquaculture of Kagoshima to thrive. Numerous restaurants around Kagoshima featureSatsuma Province local cuisine. Popular cuisine incorporating local agriculture includesweet potato,kibinago sashimi (silver-striped herring),buri amberjack,kampachi yellowtail, "Black Label Products" such askuro-ushi Wagyu beef,kuro-buta Berkshire pork dishes, andkuro-Satsuma jidori chicken (sometimes served as raw, chickensashimi); smoked eel, keihan, andmiki (fermented rice milk consumed among residents of theAmami Islands).^{[citation needed]}

Satsuma-age, or deep-fried fish cake, comes in great variety in Kagoshima. Though the deep-fried fishcake can be found throughout the country, the Satsuma Domain (modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture) is commonly believed to be the birthplace of the snack. It is said, though, the concept was introduced from the Ryūkyū Kingdom (modern-day Okinawa Prefecture) by Satsuma Lord, Nariakira Shimazu.

There are many types of sweets produced in Kagoshima Prefecture. Kagoshima-based Seika Foods Co., Ltd. (Seika shokuhin kabushiki-kaisha) has produced some of Japan's most popular and timeless sweets such ashyōroku mochiBontan Ame (ボンタンアメ),Satsuma Imo Caramel (さつまいもキャラメル), and green tea-flavored Hyōroku mochi, Minami "shirokuma" shaved ice desserts, etc. Traditional treats outside of Seika Food Co., Ltd. products includekarukan (sweet cakes made from steamed yams and rice flour),jambo-mochi,kokutō brown sugar from the Amami Islands,getanha brown sugar cake, etc.

In 1559, at Kōriyama Hachiman Shrine (郡山八幡神社) in Isa City (伊佐市) a carpenter wrote atop a wooden board "the Shintō Priest of this shrine is too stingy to offer meShōchū (焼酎) showing an early love for the spirits. Kagoshima Prefecture is officially recognized (by the World Trade Organization) as the home to one of the most traditional beverages of Japan,shōchū. In Kagoshima there are 113+ distilleries, producing about 1,500 highly acclaimed brands, placing Kagoshima in the top for production quantity and shipment. While visiting Kagoshima, one may notice labels readingHonkaku-shōchū (本格焼酎).Honkaku-shōchū is a distilled beverage produced with traditional skills using ingredients such as natural spring water, sweet potatoes, locally grown sugar cane, and grains. Varieties ofhonkaku-shōchū includeImo-jōchū (芋焼酎),shōchū distilled from sweet potatoes,Mugi-jōchū (麦焼酎), distilled from barley, andKome-jōchū (米焼酎) distilled from rice. Another type ofshōchū isKokutō-shōchū (黒糖焼酎),shōchū distilled with brown sugar).Shōchū has long gained international favor and has come to be comparable to Bordeaux for wine, Scotch for whiskey, and Cognac for brandy. Also, the Amami Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture are the only areas sanctioned to bear the label ofkokutō-shōchū.

Kurozu (黒酢) or black vinegar is another item of the "Black Label Products" of Kagoshima, the other of which isKokutō-shōchū. There are a number ofkurozu farms around Kagoshima, most of which are located around theKirishima area. Mostkurozu farms producekurozu bottled vinegar (fermented for a single year, 2+ years) along with other items such as salad dressing, powders, capsules, spices, candy, etc.Kurozu also comes in different flavors such as grape, orange,ume plum, etc. though the most popular flavor by far is apple. The farms are open to visitations and often offer tours.

Today, Kagoshima is home to a distinctive dialect of Japanese known as Satsugū dialect (薩隅方言,Satsugū Hōgen) orKagoshima dialect (鹿児島弁,Kagoshima-ben, orKagomma-ben), differing from the usualKyushu dialects with its pronunciations of theyotsugana.

For the most part, Satsugū dialect is mutually unintelligible withStandard Japanese,^[8] though most Satsugū speakers know both as a result of language standardization in Japan.

Kagoshima Rebnise, a professional basketball team, was founded in 2003 and currently competes in the second division of the nationalB.League.Kagoshima United FC, a football team, was founded in 2014 and competes in theJ3 League. Although no major professional baseball teams are based in the prefecture, a number of Kagoshima's ballparks have hosted the spring training camps ofNippon Professional Baseball teams:

• Ibusuki Municipal Ballpark (指宿市営球場), camp home of theKokutesu Swallows
• Kagoshima Fureai Sportsland [ja], camp home ofSagan Tosu (football)
• Kagoshima Kamoike Stadium, camp home ofJúbilo Iwata (football) andToshiba Brave Lupus (rugby)
• Kamoike Ballpark, previous camp home of theChiba Lotte Marines (NPB) andLotte Giants (KBO League). Also hosts regular season games.
• Kamoike Citizen Stadium [ja]
• Yunomoto Ballpark (湯之元球場), camp home of theYakult Atoms

TheKirishima-Yaku National Park is located in Kagoshima Prefecture.

• Daiichi Institute of Technology
• Daiichi Junior College of Infant Education
• The International University of Kagoshima
• Kagoshima Immaculate Heart College
• Kagoshima Immaculate Heart University
• Kagoshima Prefectural College
• Kagoshima University
• Kagoshima Women's Junior College
• National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya
• Shigakukan University

• Tanegashima Space Center
• Uchinoura Space Center

• Bansei Tokkō Peace Museum
• Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots
• Museum of the Meiji Restoration
• Reimeikan, Kagoshima Prefectural Center for Historical Material
• Uenohara site

• Hisatsu Orange Railway
• JR Kyushu
  • Ibusuki Makurazaki Line
  • Hisatsu Line
  • Kagoshima Line
  • Kitto Line
  • Kyushu Shinkansen
  • Nippō Main Line

• Kagoshima City Tram

• Higashikyushu Expressway (Hayato Road)
• Ibusuki Toll Road
• Kyushu Expressway
• Minamikyushu Expressway
• Miyazaki Expressway

• National Route 3 (Kitakyushu–Fukuoka–Kurume–Kumamoto–Minamata-Izumi-Satsuma Sendai-Kagoshima)
• National Route 10 (Kitakyushu-Nakatsu–Beppu–Saiki–Nobeoka–Miyazaki–Miyakonojo-Kagoshima)
• National Route 58 (disconnected segments in downtown Kagoshima and on the islands ofTanegashima andAmami Ōshima)
• Route 220 (Miyazaki-Nichinan-Shibushi-Kanoya-Tarumizu-Kirishima)
• Route 223
• Route 224
• Route 225
• Route 226
• Route 267 (Hitoyoshi-Isa-Satsuma Sendai)
• Route 268 (Minamata-Isa-Ebino–Kobayashi-Miyazaki)
• Route 269
• Route 270
• Route 328 (Kagoshima-Isa-Izumi)
• Route 389 (Ōmuta–Tamana–Unzen–Minamishimabara–Amakusa-Akune)
• Route 447 (Ebino-Isa-Izumi)
• Route 448
• Route 499
• Route 504 (Kanoya-Kirishima-Satsuma-Izumi)

• Kagoshima Port
  • Domestic ferry route toSakurajima,Kikai Island,Tokunoshima,Amami Island,Tanegashima,Yakushima,Yoron Island,Okinoerabu andNaha.
  • High-speed craft route toIbusuki, Tanegashima and Yakushima.
  • International container hub port
• Naze Port
  • Ferry Route to Osaka, Kobe, Kagoshima, Yakushima, Tanegashima, Tokunoshima and Naha.
• Shibushi Port
  • Ferry route toOsaka, Tokyo,Naha andAmami Island
  • International and domestic container hub port

• Tanegashima Port
• Tokunoshima Port
• Yakushima Port

• Amami Airport
• Kagoshima Airport
• Okinoerabu Airport
• Tanegashima Airport
• Tokunoshima Airport
• Yakushima Airport
• Yoron Airport

• Garappa (Kappa)
• Issie
• Ittan-momen

•  Georgia, United States, since November 28, 1966
•  Gifu Prefecture, since July 27, 1971
•  Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, since October 1989, duo-declaration
•  Jiangsu, China

• 2006 Kuril Islands earthquake
• Amami language,Kunigami language
• Kagoshima dialect
• Sakurajima radish

• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005).Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.ISBN 0-674-01753-6;ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5;OCLC 58053128.

•   Geographic data related toKagoshima Prefecture atOpenStreetMap
•  Kagoshima (prefecture) travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Official Kagoshima Prefecture websiteArchived 2015-06-11 at theWayback Machine(in English)
• Official Kagoshima Prefecture Promotional Website(in English)
• National Archives of Japan... Kagoshima map (1891)

31°24′N130°31′E / 31.400°N 130.517°E /31.400; 130.517