Kirishima, Japan
霧島市
Kirishima is a town of 123,205 people in Kagoshima, Japan, founded in November 7, 2005.
Why visit Kirishima
Townapedia lists 28 museums and landmarks, 128 parks and trails, 97 places to eat, 20 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Daiichi Institute of Technology, Matsushita Museum of Art, Uenohara and 精矛神社.
Weather in Kirishima
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Kirishima
Kirishima (霧島市, Kirishima-shi) is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2024, the city had an estimated population of 123,640 in 63202 households, and a population density of 200 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 603.17 km2 (232.89 sq mi). Kirishima has the second largest population of the cities in Kagoshima Prefecture.
From the Wikipedia article Kirishima, Kagoshima (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Kirishima on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do7
Daiichi Institute of Technology
School · 0.9 km
Higher education institution in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Museums and landmarks28
Matsushita Museum of Art
Museum · 11.3 km
Museum in Kirishima, Kagoshima, Japan
Uenohara
Monument and historic site · 4.9 km
Jomon archaeological site in southern Japan
16 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds128
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116 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes97
85 more on the map.
History
The area of Kirishima has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Uenohara site dates from the Jōmon period, and in the Kofun period the area was a stronghold of the Hayato people. In the Nara period, it became the center of ancient Ōsumi Province, and the location of the provincial capital and Provincial temple. The area largely became part of Shimazu shōen from the late Heian period, and continued to be ruled by the Shimazu clan throughout the Edo Period.
Kagoshima Airport, operating since 1972, is the main airport for Kagoshima Prefecture and can be found in Kirishima. It's located in the Mizobe area, which used to be its own town separate from Kirishima. The modern city of Kirishima was established on November 7, 2005, from the merger of the city of Kokubu, and the towns of Fukuyama, Hayato, Kirishima (former), Makizono, Mizobe and Yokogawa (all from Aira District). In the evening of August 7, 2025 Kirishima was inundated by the torrential rain that hit many parts of Kagoshima Prefecture on that date. The following day the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a heavy rain emergency for the city. Although there was widespread damage including knee-deep water in a shopping mall there were no fatalities reported.
From the History section of Kirishima, Kagoshima on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay20
Churches and places of worship68
Shopping38
Gas and EV charging34
Schools, colleges and libraries86
Healthcare37
Map of Kirishima
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kagoshima Airport (KOJ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 km away.
- Kokubu-matsuki 1 km southeast, about 1 min by car
- Hamanoichi 4 km southwest, about 4 min by car
- Kajiki 9 km west, about 9 min by car
- Aira 17 km west, about 17 min by car
- Soo 24 km southeast, about 24 min by car
- Kurino 24 km north, about 24 min by car
- Sueyoshichō-ninokata 26 km southeast, about 26 min by car
- Kagoshima 28 km southwest, about 28 min by car
- Miyakonojō 29 km east, about 29 min by car
- Kanoya 41 km south, about 41 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Kirishima 霧島, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan 2 March 2026 - City Hall Desk, Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 4.0
- Readers Kirishima 霧島, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan 2 March 2026, Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 4.0
- Kirishima 霧島, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan 2 March 2026 - street with bollards, Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 4.0
- Kirishima 霧島, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan March 2026 - City Hall, exterior, Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 4.0
- Kirishima 霧島, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan March 2026 - Kokubu Station, Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 4.0
- Kirishima 霧島, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan March 2026 - Cut Only Salon, Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 4.0
- Kirishima 霧島, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan March 2026 - Pet Shop, Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 4.0
- Kirishima 霧島, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan March 2026 - streetscape with carport, Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 4.0
- Ferris wheel in Shiroyama Park at Kirishima, Sakoppi, CC BY 3.0
- Waterloo Bridge by Monet (Matsushita Museum of Art), Claude Monet, Public domain
- Uenohara Jomon No Mori, Ray_go, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kagoshimajingu Chokushiden, ChiefHira, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hayato Mound 20180505-1, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- AEON Hayato-Kokubu (SATY) 2012, ja:User:Sanjo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shikine-turugi, T/Y, CC BY 3.0
- Kajiki junior high school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Aira Elementary school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chosa junior high school frontview, Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Aira Chosa Elementary school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kuwashihoko shrine, Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hiruko Jinja Kirishima, Amoriver Information, CC BY 2.5
- Shikine-isijinnjilya, T/Y, Public domain
- Kokubu Junior High School, Sakoppi, CC BY 3.0
- Hinatayama Junior High School, Sakoppi, CC BY 3.0
- Kirishima Makinohara junior high school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kokubu High School, Sakoppi, CC BY 3.0
- Amorigawa Elementary School, Sakoppi, CC BY 3.0
- National Hospital Organization Minamikyushu-hospital, Waka77, CC0
- Onamuji-jinja (Kirishima), entrance, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Kajiki Elementary school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 国分パーキングエリアの田の神さぁ 上り線, あじさか, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Daiichi Institute of Technology 2014-04-17 17-47, User:Donchanvt, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Daiichi Institute of Technology, Sakoppi, CC BY 3.0
- Kagoshima-jingu, chokushiden-1, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Hiruko-jinja (Kirishima), shaden, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Daiichi Junior College of Infant Education, Sakoppi, CC BY 3.0
- Kokubu seikyo hospital 202412, 運動会プロテインパワー, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Platform and train arriving at Kokubu Station, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kagoshima 20160828090704 (31382679893), inunami, CC BY 2.0
- Platform of Kokubu Station 2, そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0
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