Excursion Iso garden & sushi experience tour at Kagoshima

Indulge your senses with the exquisite gardens and flavours of the 'Southern Gateway' to Japan during this delightful, half-day garden and sushi excursion to Kagoshima.

Kagoshima, Iso Garden, Shoko Shuseikan Museum (outside view) and La Maison Goten

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximate 40-minute drive to the 17th-century Senganen Gardens (Iso Garden). Upon arrival, take a guided tour of these exquisite gardens, which feature beautiful flowers, rock pools, small bridges and shrines, and offer breath-taking panoramic vistas of the sea, Sakurajima Volcano and Kagoshima City. Your tour continues with an outside visit to the adjacent Shoko Shuseikan Museum, which chronicles the 700-year history of the Shimazu Samurai. Visit La Maison Goten, which was once used as the main residence of the head of the Shimazu family and as a guest house to which domestic and foreign dignitaries were invited. The beautiful decorations inside the residence, as well as the living room where the garden can be seen at its most beautiful, and audience room are highlights of this house.

Fish Preparation and Demonstration, Traditional Sushi Lunch

Next, re-board your coach and proceed to a local 'kaiten-zushi' restaurant, which offers sushi dishes to its diners on a conveyor belt. Guests can freely pick the dishes they like as they pass in front of them, or order dishes that are not available on the conveyor belt. Usually, the number of plates is counted to determine the cost at the end of the meal; this is how the Kaiten-zushi restaurant works. For this special arrangement, you are asked to pick up (or order) any dishes, and eat as much as you want. Also, observe a demonstration of how fresh is 'broken up', and sit down to a sushi lunch. After lunch, re-board your coach for the short drive back to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Iso Garden, Sakurajima Volcano and Kagoshima City Views, Shoko Shuseikan Museum (outside visit) and La Maison Goten, Fish Preparation and Demonstration, traditional Sushi Lunch

Note

This tour involves a moderate amount of walking for approximately 0.5 miles (about 0.8 kilometres), at times over uneven surfaces, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and 50 steps at the sites visited. This tour is not suitable for guests with food allergies, guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes and sun protection are recommended. Guests must be at least 21 years old to be served alcoholic beverages. The fish that is 'broken up' and served is generally tuna; however, this is subject to availability and other fish may be substituted. The tour sequence may vary. Space on this tour is very limited; we suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment. Ferry is not exclusive to Silversea guests. Japanese Yen is required for any purchases.

The view from the observatory is weather dependent. Guests are required to take off shoes to visit La Maison “GOTEN”. Local Tour Guides tend to have a strong accent therefore we urge flexibility. Shoko Shuseikan Museum is under construction of seismic reinforcement until October in 2024, so ONLY outside visit is possible. The duration of the tour may vary depending on the docking position.