Mt. Kaimon
Mt. Kaimon is a major landmark in the southern Satsuma Peninsula, rising 924 meters above sea level. It last erupted in 885, but despite over a thousand years of silence it is still considered an active volcano. The mountain’s symmetrical cone bears a striking resemblance to Mt. Fuji, which has earned it the nickname “Satsuma Fuji.” Mt. Kaimon is a popular destination for walkers and hikers, and those that make it to the summit are rewarded with uninterrupted views of the coastline and, on clear days, Yakushima Island in the distance. The climb can be challenging, so appropriate footwear is required.
Nearby Nagasakibana, a cape on the southernmost tip of the peninsula consisting entirely of volcanic rock, offers unspoiled views of the sea and Mt. Kaimon. For centuries, Bandokorobana Nature Park has been praised for its spectacular views, which were rated “the best in the world” by cartographer and surveyor Ino Tadataka (1745–1818) when he visited the area on one of the surveying expeditions he made to produce Japan’s first modern map.