• The ferry connecting Kagoshima Port and Sakurajima operates 24 hours with departures every 15 minutes even late at night.
  • Sakurajima's volcanic ash is called gray snowfall with ash dust boxes installed at street corners for local ash removal.
  • Tanegashima Space Center is Japan's largest rocket launch site where islanders traditionally watch launches from beaches.
  • Some areas of Yakushima receive over 8000mm annual rainfall described as 35 days of rain per month.
  • Ibusuki Onsen sand baths include self-service spots where you shovel sand yourself.
  • Locals use black vinegar daily with black vinegar soda drinks available at convenience stores.
  • Gifu Prefecture maintains sister prefecture relations due to flood control construction by former Satsuma samurai in the Meiji period.
  • Over 10,000 cranes migrate to Izumi City each winter, making it Japan's largest crane wintering ground.
  • Kagoshima-Chuo Station to Hakata takes minimum 1 hour 17 minutes by Kyushu Shinkansen with fastest Tokyo connection about 6 hours.
  • The dialect wazze means very, frequently appearing in local TV commercials.
  • The Amami Islands are the only region nationwide with special designation to produce brown sugar shochu.
  • Sweet potato production ranks among Japan's highest, used for shochu ingredients and karukan confectionery.
  • Koshikijima's Toshidon is an oni-visiting ritual registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
  • The Guribu Family serves as official PR mascot characters with piglet Sakura set as Sakurajima-born.
  • The prefectural office observation lobby (18th floor) is free with views reaching Kaimon-dake on clear days.