Top Things to do in Ibusuki
6 Free Things to do in Ibusuki That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Ibusuki, Japan including Mt. Kaimondake, Chiringashima Island, Cape Nagasakibana, JR Southernmost Nishioyama Station, Lake Ikeda, Ryugu Shrine.
Restaurants in Ibusuki
1. Mt. Kaimondake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 413 reviews
Reviewed By xlne - Singapore, Singapore
I wanted to take my time climbing Mt. Kaimondake because I’m almost recovered from my knee injury, so I took the 9.10am bus from Ibusuki to Kaimon Station. While walking to the trail head on my way in from the main road, I was greeted warmly by a lady sweeping in the Shinto shrine at the bottom of the mountain. At about 11am, I started my slow ascent and reached the top of the mountain around 1.20pm. There were not many people on the trek but I adopted a snail pace anyway. Sadly, this is one of those trails that doesn’t have many nice viewpoints enroute, even though the view from the top is indeed marvellous. At the summit, you’ll actually be standing higher than Tokyo Skytree itself! The curious sight of small groups of trekkers sitting around eating their bentos at the summit was accompanied by the fragrance of cooking noodles, making me regret not bringing some food of my own as well. I only had crackers and water, so I made the most of them while waiting in vain for the clouds to clear. At 3.30pm, I started down at a brisk pace because I don’t want to get caught trekking after sundown. I reached the base of the mountain around 6pm. Most of the nearby restaurants seem to be closed so I had to walk out further to find food. End up taking the 9pm train back to Ibusuki after eating a hearty local teppenyaki dinner some way down the main road.
2. Chiringashima Island
3. Cape Nagasakibana
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 343 reviews
Reviewed By tomizuta1953 - Funabashi, Japan
We left early in the morning from Ibusuki Onsen and drove south for about ten kilometers to the southernmost point of Satsuma Peninsular, Nagasakibana. It was a cold day, but we parked our car at the free car park which is at a lower level than the main road. We went up to the main road and made our way towards the lighthouse at the very end. From here you can command a very good view of another famous mountain, Kaimondake. There are many mountains that are given the name Fuji. Kaimondake is one that is called Satsuma Fuji. It is not at all surprising when you see its beautiful cone shape. It is an active volcano.
4. JR Southernmost Nishioyama Station
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 386 reviews
Reviewed By NatalieChoi03 - Hong Kong, China
Great view from the southernmost JR station of Japan. Too bad we went there on a rainy day that we could not enjoy the greatest scene.
5. Lake Ikeda
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 303 reviews
Reviewed By san220478 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
With a breathtaking view of Mt. Kaimondake and fields of blossoming flowers on its banks, Lake Ikeda is a tranquil, scenic stopover for those travelling to or from Ibusuki. The panorama isn’t the only reason why people flock here, though; it’s also to maybe catch a glimpse of the elusive (and possibly mythical) Issie, Kagoshima’s very own Loch Ness Monster (Issie, Nessie, geddit?) While one is unlikely to encounter this remnant of a forgotten age, one CAN come face to face with another denizen of Ikeda’s depths - the giant eel. In fact, you can see some specimens on display across the road at Paradise Ikeda, a local goods-cum-food store. They’re easy to spot, held in large tanks right outside the washroom. Anyways, Lake Ikeda is great for a pleasant stroll, a nice run, or even a fun picnic. Most people I saw walked by the well-manicured banks after a quick visit to one of the many ice-cream stalls - ALWAYS get a seasonal/regional flavour because they’re uniquely delicious; we had Satsuma Purple Sweet Potato and original Sweet Potato, both of which were superb. It would have been sweeter if we’d gotten a sneak peak at Issie, but you can’t have everything right? Maybe you’ll be luckier; give Lake Ikeda a shot next time you’re in the neck of the woods. I know I will :p
