Sakurajima is the Japanese volcano that sits in Kagoshima Bay and is known for frequent eruptions.
Located in Kagoshima Prefecture on Kyushu, Sakurajima is an active stratovolcano and one of Japan’s most persistently restless volcanoes. It was once an island, but lava from the enormous 1914 eruption connected it to the Osumi Peninsula. The volcano now forms a peninsula within Kagoshima Bay.
Its eruptions are concentrated mainly at Minamidake and, more recently, the Showa crater. Activity intensified in 1955 and has continued with frequent ash emissions and explosive events. The nearby city of Kagoshima is only a few kilometres away, so residents regularly prepare for ashfall and volcanic hazards.
A common mix-up is confusing Sakurajima with Mount Aso or Mount Asama, which are also major Japanese volcanoes. Sakurajima’s distinctive setting in the bay, its former island status, and its repeated eruptions make it especially recognizable. Its fertile volcanic soil also supports famous local crops, including the giant Sakurajima daikon radish.