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Izumi / KagoshimaFarm stays, a samurai district, and over 10,000 wintering cranes in Izumi, Kagoshima

Kagoshima Prefecture is at the southern tip of mainland Japan and is an area of active volcanoes, primeval forests, hot springs, and one-of-a-kind cuisine. Izumi City is in the northwestern corner of the prefecture facing the East China Sea. The city is a blend of historical and natural sites, including a beautifully preserved samurai district and the Izumi crane migration grounds - a resting place for over 10,000 cranes on their winter sojourn from Siberia. Book a farm stay to learn more about local culture and for a deeper Kagoshima travel experience.

Story 1A rare opportunity to view over 10,000 cranes soaring over the Japanese countryside

Cranes fly at dawn in search of breakfast

Izumi City is the preferred migration ground for over 10,000 cranes that fly in from Siberia during the winter. From November to March, these majestic dancing birds take over the fields and sky. This is an incredibly rare sight that you are unlikely to see anywhere else.

Learn all the fascinating details about cranes at Crane Park Izumi

Visit the Izumi Crane Observation Center to see the cranes up close, and then head to Crane Park Izumi to discover why such a huge number of cranes choose to fly here in the winter months. The park also provides visitors with plenty of background information on these beautiful and fascinating birds.

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Story 2Explore a samurai district in kimono and take part in traditional activities

A traditional tea ceremony in a samurai residence

The area where the Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residences are located used to be the largest samurai district in the Satsuma Domain - one of the most powerful feudal domains of Edo-period Japan (1603–1867.) The roughly 150 buildings that you can see today have been carefully preserved; most are still lived in, while two are open to the public. The area retains an atmosphere of a time gone by.

Get expert help to find your perfect kimono

For an enhanced travel experience that goes beyond basic sightseeing, visitors can dress in traditional kimono (with the help of kimono professionals), join a tea ceremony, and take a trip in an cow-drawn carriage.

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Story 3Book a farm stay in Japan’s deep south

Getting to grips with Kagoshima cuisine

The Ideue family runs one of several farm-stay programs in Izumi that welcomes curious travelers looking to discover more about the southernmost prefecture on Japan’s mainland. Other families, too, delight in introducing Japanese culture to guests through a range of culinary and agricultural experiences.

Seasonal fruit picking - plucking mikan oranges in November

Some farm-stay programs offer guests the opportunity to learn about Kagoshima farming and culinary practices through seasonal fruit- and vegetable-picking and by spending quality time in the family kitchen with friendly and knowledgeable hosts. Some hosts introduce their guests to local points of interest.

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Access information

Getting to Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture:

Flights from Haneda International Airport to Kagoshima Airport take around two hours. The drive from the airport to Izumi City takes around 75 minutes. Alternatively, the Kagoshima Airport shuttle bus takes around 85 minutes. The Kyushu Shinkansen from JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka to JR Izumi Station in Kagoshima takes around 70 minutes.

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change. Unless stated otherwise, prices do not include tax.
*Unauthorized reproduction of material in this article is strictly prohibited.

About “Countryside Stay Japan“

If you’re looking for a new way to experience Japan, sign up for a farm-stay experience through the Countryside Stay Japan program and participate in traditional rural-lifestyle activities in recommended countryside locations.

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Izumi / KagoshimaFarm stays, a samurai district, and over 10,000 wintering cranes in Izumi, Kagoshima

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