The first time we went to Sakurajima, the ferry line was way long. This time the line was not that long and I thought maybe we could make it onto the ferry. Unfortunately, we didn't make it. They allowed 2 more smaller cars onto the ferry but stopped loading at our car. However we got to be the first car loaded on the next ferry (every 15 minutes) and thus the first car to exit the boat. Next photo taken from car as we approach docking. We had similar luck in our return. We were the 5th car to be loaded.
Last time the weather didn't cooperate so we skipped a lot of the sightseeing and focused on visiting church members. This time the sun was out and even though it was January, the temperature was warm enough. We soaked our feet at the onset near the Sakurajima Visitor center just like last time but we allocated enough time to do some sightseeing before our first visit appointment.
I am not very good at doing this selfie thing but here we are. People on the left are Chinese tourists.
Sister Lee says the temperature of the water is just perfect for her, not too hot and not too cold.
There were a bunch of Chinese that were sitting in the area of the following photo. I waited until all left so I could take this photo. In the background is the cityscape of Kagoshima.
In the visitor center, there are actually exhibits. Last time we didn't have time to explore but this time we walked through the exhibits. I found this one to be the most interesting, the world's largest radish was grown here. I think what is inside the display case is just a replica. I wonder if they grow large because of the volcanic soil.
Here is an outdoor store stand at the parking lot of the Arimura Lava Observatory with couple real radishes. They would be dwarfs if placed next to this exhibit.
Here's Sister Lee with Sakurajima as the backdrop. This is probably the closest we'll ever get to an active volcano. There is another spot on Sakurajima that we could drive to that is closer. If we go again and if weather cooperates, maybe we'll try that view.
The path at Arimura Lava Observatory consists mainly dirt path (lots of ash) and steps as depicted in next photo. Lots of ash covering the steps so best not to run. What is interesting and not very noticeable until you take a close look, the rails look like wood logs but in reality metal pipes but covered & painted to look like bark.
Here is one of several pavilions at this lava observatory. You can actually see another pavilion further back in the photo.
I took this photo because there is container of helmets underneath the bench. In the visitor center, there is a bulletin keeping track of # of eruptions for the year. In 2019, there were 228 eruptions. That's nearly 2/3 of the 365 days in a year. Every day we can see smoke coming from the mountain, but obviously there is a criterion of what actually can be counted as an eruption. Nearly 2/3 is good enough reason to keep the helmets handy just in case.
For big eruptions, there is this shelter right next to the observatory parking lot. My question is what do you do if falling debris block the entrance once you are inside. I guess better hope rescuers can come to check out these shelters soon after major eruptions.
Further down the road from the lava observatory was this gate that got buried from the huge eruption of 1914, which lava flow changed Sakurajima from an island to being connected to the main Kyushu Island.
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