Located at the southern extremity of Kyushu, Kagoshima has a territory extending about 600 kilometers from the prefectural border in the north to the boundary between it and Okinawa. The temperate and undulating coastline has a shape that looks as if hugging the Sakura-jima Island, an active volcano sitting in the Kagoshima ("Kinko") Bay. On the sea far beyond to the south are dotted about 30 islands, such as the Yaku-shima Island registered as a world's natural heritage, the Tokara Islands with a chain of 12 isles of different sizes over about 162 kilometers and the Amami-Oshima, the third biggest island in Japan.

A further look at what is in the prefecture finds the Kirishima-Yaku National Park containing the detached Yaku-Shima Island and the Nichinan Kaigan Seminatinal Park known for the communities of subtropical plants, like "Piro" designated as a Japan's special natural tresure, etc. in the volcanic areas of Mt. Kirishima, Sakura-Jima Island, etc. From this large number of natural parks, you can readily tell the abundance of Nature extending from the temperate to subtropical zones.

Also, Uchinoura and Tanega-Shima Island known for rocket launching bases are the most advanced technology-packed gateway to space.

For more information on Kagosima, go to:

• Welcome to Kagoshima