Izumi (出水) is a city in the northwestern part of Kagoshima prefecture approximately 80 km north-northwest of Kagoshima City. It is known as a migratory place for cranes.

Understand

The northern part of the city faces the Yatsushiro Sea (Shiranui Sea).

Tourist information sites

• Izumi Navi is the city's official multilingual guide site.
• The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in

There is a stop on the Kyushu Shinkansen.

By plane

The nearest airports are Kagoshima Airport and Aso Kumamoto Airport, both of which take about an hour and a half by public transportation. From Kagoshima Airport, there is a direct airport bus to various parts of the city. From Aso Kumamoto Airport, it is a connection between the Kyushu Shinkansen and the airport bus (Super Banpeiyu) (the transfer station is Shin-Yatsushiro Station).

By train

Izumi Station serves the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) and the Kyushu Shinkansen.

Hisatsu Orange Railway trains stop at Komenotsu Station, Izumi Station, Nishi Izumi Station, Takaono Station and Nodago Station.

By bus

An airport shuttle bus operated by Nankoku Kotsu from Kagoshima Airport stops at Miyanojo, Izumi Station, and Akune City Hall.

A shuttle bus from Kuranomoto Airport operated by Nankoku Kotsu connects to the ferry bound for Amakusa, and to Izumi Station in front of Dandan Market.

Get around

Izumi Fureai Bus: The Izumi Bus Center, in front of Izumi Station, is the starting point and runs to various areas of the city.

Nangoku Kotsu: Route buses are operated from Izumi City to Minamata City, Akune City, and Nagashima Town in Kumamoto Prefecture.

See

Izumi Crane Observation Center

• 1 Izumi Crane Habitat (出水ツル渡来地, Izumi Crane Toraichi). A National Special Natural Monument known for the wintering of about 10,000 cranes from mid-October to March each year. It is breeding grounds of the cranes that migrate to the Izumi Plain are the wetlands from Lake Baikal to the middle Amur River basin for the hooded cranes, and the wetlands for the white-naped cranes from the middle to upper Amur river basins.  
• 2 Izumifumoto (出水麓). This Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings was used as a defensive base for the Satsuma clan. It is composed of samurai residences sandwiched between stone walls made of cobblestones and high fences was a living base for the samurai. The Izumifumoto Historical Museum displays ancient documents and weapons.  
• Noma Checkpoint
• Hakozaki Hachiman Shrine
• 3 Kashikuri Shrine (加紫久利神社), 鹿児島県出水市下鯖町1272. A Shinto shrine rebuilt in 1989.  
• 4 Kannoji Temple (感応寺, Chinkokuzan Kannozenji Temple). A temple of the Shokokuji school of the Rinzai sect.  
• 5 Kumano Shrine (熊野神社). It enshrines the three gods of Kumano: Izanami no Mikoto, Yomotsu no Mikoto, and Hayatama no Mikoto.  
• 6 Shibi Shrine (紫尾神社). It enshrines the so-called 'Hyuga Sandai' of Ninokigi no Mikoto, Hikohohidemi no Mikoto, and Ubukigusabuki Fugai no Mikoto. It is dedicated at the autumn festival on September 23rd.  

Do

• Takaono Nakanoichi (高尾野 中の市), The area around the Takaono Station on the Hisatsu Orange Railway. A two-day market held every March at the equinox to celebrate the arrival of spring, with about 300 stalls selling seedlings, flowers, miscellaneous goods, food, and more. It attracts 100,000 people. There are performances by Takaono Heiroku Taiko and Nodago Shimazu Taiko drums, as well as events such as jumbo soba eating competitions.  
• Takaono Summer Festival: August
• Ueki Market: October to May
• West Japan Old Car Festival

Go next

• Akune
• Nagashima
• Satsumasendai
• Ichikikushikino
• Hioki
• Minamata
• Tsunagi
• Ashikita
• Yatsushiro

Routes through Izumi

Hakata ← Shin-Minamata ←

N  S

→ Sendai → Kagoshima