[Hotel Review] Staying at Sheraton Kagoshima: Mt. Sakurajima Views, Hot Springs, and the Ultimate Local Hot Pot”Sakurajima Kuro Nabe”!

In September 2026, I took a trip to Kyushu and stayed at the Sheraton Kagoshima.

Located in Korai-cho, Kagoshima City, it’s a luxury hotel with incredible views of Mt. Sakurajima. It’s super convenient as a base for sightseeing, too! Even though it’s right in the heart of the city, you still get stunning volcano views and natural, free-flowing hot springs—definitely a huge plus.

During this stay, I got to enjoy a Sakurajima-view room, a amazing dinner packed with local ingredients, and a breakfast buffet loaded with regional specialties.

Spacious Room with Amazing Sakurajima Views

After checking in, I headed up to the room. The hallway entrance felt super spacious, and there was plenty of closet space.

And right outside the window—a full view of Mt. Sakurajima! Getting to admire Kagoshima’s most iconic view right from your room feels really special.

The vanity area had a huge mirror, stocked with toothbrushes, body towels, and even body lotion. Everything else you need for a comfortable stay was there too: pajamas, slippers, towels, an electric kettle, a fridge, and bottled water. Over at the tea station, they even had local Premium Chiran Tea.

The bed was huge and insanely comfortable, so I was able to get a fantastic night’s sleep.

Relaxing in the Onsen & Sauna!

One of the best parts about Sheraton Kagoshima is its onsen bathhouse. It’s so nice being able to soak in natural hot springs while staying at a city luxury hotel.

Along with the indoor baths, there’s an open-air bath, a sauna, and a cold plunge pool. I went on a weekday, and it was pretty lively with plenty of guests enjoying it. Taking a long soak in the warm waters after a day of sightseeing and good food was absolute bliss.

Savoring Local Flavors at “Satsumaguma” (Featuring the Sakurajima Kuro Nabe)

For dinner, I visited Satsumaguma, an izakaya-style restaurant on the 4th floor of the hotel.

I ordered the Kirishima Course, which features the “Sakurajima Kuro Nabe”—a hot pot where you can taste Kagoshima’s famous Kurogyu (black beef), Kurobuta (black pork), and Kurodori (black chicken) all at once!

The meal started with three appetizers featuring silver-stripe round herring cooked with Sakurajima ash, chestnut pumpkin, and autumn eggplant, followed by a plate of three types of fresh sashimi.

Next came a side dish of red sea bream (Oukan) from Tarumizu paired with flash-fried root vegetables in Kirishima black vinegar sauce. It was a great display of local seafood and ingredients.

Then came the main event: the Sakurajima Kuro Nabe.
All three local meats were arranged together in the pot to look like the mighty Mt. Sakurajima, which made for a great presentation!

The broth is made using bonito, flying fish stock, local tea, and actual hot spring water. Combining the flavors from all three meats creates a rich, sweet, and deeply comforting soup base.

To top it off, you get 8 different condiments sourced from around Kagoshima to customize each bite:

White ponzu with Hetsuka citrus
Freshly shaved bonito flakes from Makurazaki
Tea salt from Yusui Town
Sakurajima mandarin orange salt… and more!

Switching up the condiments made every single bite taste different. After enjoying the tender meat and broth, I finished it all off with noodles cooked right in the pot. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind dish you can only get in Kagoshima!

(Note: The Kirishima Course is 8,500 yen and starts October 1st. The hot pot is also available à la carte for 5,500 yen.)

Breakfast Buffet Packed with Local Goodness

The next morning, I headed down to the breakfast buffet.

They had fresh juices, fruits, salads, crispy bacon, freshly baked bread, and even an omelet station where chefs make them fresh to order!

On top of standard breakfast foods, there were tons of Kagoshima specialties: cold tofu topped with Makurazaki bonito flakes, Keihan (chicken rice soup), Satsuma-age (fried fish cakes), and Gane-ten (sweet potato fritters).

A Perfect Kagoshima Getaway

Between the grand views of Mt. Sakurajima right from the room, the relaxing hot spring baths, the incredible Kuro Nabe dinner, and the rich breakfast buffet, this stay was packed with everything that makes Kagoshima special.

If you’re looking for a spot that offers great views, hot springs, and amazing food right in the city center, Sheraton Kagoshima is a fantastic choice!

information and access to Sheraton Kagoshima