Yunohira Lookout

Welcome to the Yunohira Lookout, the zenith of any public journey onto Sakurajima. At 373 meters above sea level, we are standing at the highest point on the mountain accessible to the general public. …

Turning our attention directly toward the mountain, we are faced with the Kita-dake, or North Peak. Although currently dormant, this peak is the oldest part of the Sakurajima complex and is responsible for many of the massive…

Looking west from Yunohira, the view changes completely. We are looking down across the Kinko Bay—formally known as Kagoshima Bay—at the city of Kagoshima. …

The Yunohira observation deck itself is a piece of intentional design. If you were to see it from above, you would notice that the entire structure is shaped like a cherry blossom petal—a nod to the name 'Sakurajima,' which…

Inside the lookout building, there is a small but fascinating gift shop that specializes in products unique to this high-altitude location. The most interesting items here are the 'volcanic ash charms.' In a brilliant move of…

Our final section at Yunohira brings us to the closest visual point to the active heart of the mountain. If you look slightly south from the North Peak, you can see the Minami-dake, or South Peak, which is the current center of…

As we conclude our time at the Yunohira Lookout, we hope that the elevation of this spot has matched the elevation of your understanding of Sakurajima. We have stood at the highest point open to us, looking into the dormant and…