Sakurajima and Kotsuki River

The view looks across Kagoshima Bay toward Sakurajima, the active volcano that rises from the water opposite the city. The Kotsuki River flows into the bay in the foreground, with the city's waterfront and the volcano's slopes behind. On clear days the shape of the mountain is easy to recognise, and small plumes of ash or steam sometimes appear above the summit.

Early morning often brings the clearest light on the volcano, while evenings show the city lights along the bay. Winter tends to offer more clear days than the rainy season, when clouds often hide the summit. Ash fall and wind direction change how much of the mountain is visible, and the river mouth looks different with tides and after heavy rain.

Sakurajima sits in Kagoshima Prefecture on Kyushu, Japan's southern island, and is one of the country's most active volcanoes. It was once an island, and lava flows in the twentieth century connected it to the mainland. Visitors to Kagoshima take ferries across the bay, walk volcanic trails and soak in hot springs, while the city's waterfront is a common place to watch the mountain.