Explore Ibusuki, a charming coastal city on Kagoshima’s Satsuma Peninsula, and discover its food and culture.

Famous for its black-sand beaches, hot sand baths, and stunning scenery, Ibusuki is a relaxing destination that offers a chance to enjoy local cuisine and culture.

The experience begins at Ibusuki Station, where you’ll meet your guide and set off to explore the city’s highlights.

Your first stop is a katsuobushi factory, where you’ll go behind the scenes to see how dried and fermented skipjack tuna, a key ingredient in Japanese cuisine, is made. Learn about each step of the process, from cleaning and freezing to smoking and drying.

Next, visit a charming roadside station (michi no eki) to shop for fresh local vegetables and other ingredients that you’ll use later in the day.

From here, enjoy one of Ibusuki’s most famous experiences: a natural hot sand bath. Relax as warm sand gently covers your body, a soothing tradition unique to this region and cherished by visitors from across Japan and abroad.

Afterward, head to a public geothermal steam cooking area. Here you’ll steam the produce you picked up earlier, learning a traditional cooking method known as sume ryori.

The day concludes with a delicious regional lunch featuring nagashi somen- flowing noodles. You will return to Ibusuki Station, carrying with you memories of food, culture, and relaxation from this unique Kagoshima adventure.