Sakurajima rises from the sea in the center of a huge sea-flooded caldera created in a monumental prehistoric eruption. Since its current eruptive cycle began in 1955, Sakurajima has frequently been considered THE most consistently active explosive volcano on earth, though it seems to have slowed down considerably in recent years. During high activity Sakurajima periodically explodes with towering ash clouds (often laced with volcanic lightning) and an incandescent column of magma hundreds of meters high. I don’t know of anything more spectacular than a big Sakurajima explosion viewed at night. The entire mountain sparkles with exploding lava bombs during such eruptions. This volcano is obviously far too dangerous to climb, so when Sak is acting up the best thing to do is either stay at one of the local hot spring resorts or else camp away from the base of the mountain, observing its activity from a “safe” distance. There are lovely seaside hot spring pools to bathe in near the foot of the volcano, at Furusato Onsen. The often ash-drenched city of Kagoshima across the bay has some great sushi bars.

Written by  Mike Lyvers.

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