Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima Review: Is It Worth Staying Here?
Last Updated on May 12, 2026 by Kay
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Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima is one of the most famous hotels in Kagoshima (and the most famous in Kagoshima city). My husband (a Japanese national) really wanted to stay here, but I did balk at the price. He doesn’t ask for much, though, and it did look very lovely, so I agreed. And naturally, we both had pretty high expectations.
But did Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima live up to its reputation?
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay. The bed was comfortable, the breakfast was great, and the view of Sakurajima, especially from the onsen, was absolutely the highlight. That said, I did think the hotel felt a little outdated in some areas, and it was a little expensive for what it was. (But what are you going to do, they have a great location, after all!)
Still, I would stay here again, especially if it were just my husband and me.
In this article, I’ll share my honest experience staying at the Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima so you can decide whether to spend a night or so here.
Table of Contents
My Experience Staying at Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima
Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima is located on Shiroyama Hill and overlooks Kagoshima city and Sakurajima. When we arrived, the hotel looked exactly like what I expected from a well-known hotel in Japan: big, grand, and elegant. We arrived by car and staff members greeted us at the entrance and then directed my husband to the parking.
If you don’t have a car, the hotel has a free shuttle bus that does pick-ups and drop-offs at central areas like Kagoshima-Chuo Station and Tenmonkan.
When my daughter and I were waiting in the lobby, I took in how expansive and beautiful everything was. I also noticed that there are several restaurants inside the hotel, which we immediately regretted not taking advantage of. We had already eaten dinner before checking in, but once we saw the dining options, we wished we had planned to eat there instead.
The bar also had a happy hour where local craft beer was half off, which we were very sad to miss as it ended at 5:30 PM. So if you’re staying here and you like craft beer, maybe don’t make the same mistake we did.
Our Room
We booked a Double Room with a view of Sakurajima.
Our room was spacious enough and comfortable. It had a large bed, a desk, a small table and chairs, pajamas for the whole family, slippers, bottled water, tea, a hot water dispenserm and an air cleaner.
The room itself felt a little outdated, especially the furniture and overall style, but it was clean and had everything we needed. The bed was comfortable enough that we all slept well and woke up refreshed.
There was also plenty of space for our luggage and drawers for our clothes, as well as a spacious closet for jackets, and a safe.
That said, I didn’t love the layout of the room. The toilet, sink, and bath were all in one room, with the toilet right next to the bathtub. It was fine, but for a hotel that feels quite grand in other ways, I would have preferred a more separate bathroom layout.
This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it did make the room feel a little more dated. Looking back, I would have sprung for a Grand Double room as the bath and shower are in a separate room, as is the toilet.
Below is a photo of the amenities we got, which include toothbrushes, razors, cotton sets, body towels, and brushes.
The hairdryer was a standard Panasonic ionity that you’ll find at most hotels in Japan, so nothing fancy and just gets the job done.
I also appreciated that they provided children’s amenities. My daughter got her own little slippers, towel, and toothbrush set, which is always helpful when traveling with kids.
The best part of the room was the view. We arrived at night, so we could see the city lights from the windows, which was really pretty. In the morning, the view from the room was stunning, especially Sakurajima. Here is what the sunrise looked like from our room:
The Onsen
One of the biggest reasons to stay at Shiroyama Hotel is the onsen. It does not disappoint!
This is a public open-air onsen that guests can use, and the view of Sakurajima from the bath is amazing. We went in the morning, which was lovely, but lighting-wise, I think the view would probably be better in the afternoon.
So if you can, try to arrive by around 3 PM so you have time to check in and enjoy the onsen while the light is still good.
Even though we went in the morning, it was still a really memorable experience. Sitting in the open-air bath while looking out at Sakurajima is exactly the kind of thing that makes a hotel stay feel worth it.
I also believe you can use the onsen as a day-tripper during the day, even if you’re not staying at the hotel, so that could be worth looking into if you want the view without booking a room.
One thing to note is that you can wear the hotel room wear to the hot spring facilities, but not to the lobby, restaurants, shops, or breakfast area. There were signs explaining this near the onsen floor, which I thought was helpful. At the same time, I found this rule a little silly, especially since it would have been nice to enjoy the hotel bar after having a bath.
I can’t take a photo of the inside of the onsen, but here’s what the entrance looks like:
The Area Near the Onsen
Outside the onsen entrance, there is an area where you can enjoy draft craft beer, which is a nice refreshment after a bath.
Unfortunately, they didn’t have any non-alcoholic drinks for our daughter, so we skipped it.
They also don’t allow you to bring in items from the convenience store attached to the same area, which I found a bit weird because the cashier seemed to be the same. It wasn’t a big deal, but it did make the area feel less useful for us as a family.
If you’re visiting without kids, though, I think it would be a really nice spot to relax after the onsen.
There is also a massage service here, but as you can see in the photo below, I was too late to be able to enjoy it.
The Aroma Bar
My daughter and I really enjoyed the little aroma bar that’s located on the same floor as the onsen.
You can try different aroma oil scents, and if you find one you like, you can buy it. It was a small thing, but it was cute and relaxing, and it gave us something fun to do together.
I wouldn’t say it’s a reason to book the hotel, but it was a nice little extra.
The Garden, Illuminations, and Night Views
There is also a lovely garden on the hotel grounds that guests can visit.
We enjoyed walking around, and there are some nice photo spots that overlook the city. Since the hotel is up on a hill, you get some really pretty views of Kagoshima.
The colorful illuminations and fountain also made for great photo ops!
My daughter enjoyed walking around and looking at the lights and illuminations, so even though there wasn’t a playground, she still found things to do.
Breakfast Buffet
When we booked Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima, we chose a plan that came with the breakfast buffet, and I’m really glad we did.
After we were seated, we realized we could see Sakurajima from our table, which was such a nice surprise. It made breakfast feel a lot more special.
There was a lot of variety, which worked perfectly for us because I prefer Western-style breakfasts, while my husband likes Japanese breakfasts.
Below is what my husband got:
And, of course, they had lots for kids, too. I mean, look at this cute bear-shaped pudding!
The highlight was definitely the made-to-order Kagoshima kurobuta, or black pork, shabu shabu (pictured in my breakfast below on the right). It was amazing, and after eating it, we regretted even more that we hadn’t had dinner at the hotel the night before.
They also had a jam station where you could try different award-winning local jams that are produced by the hotel. And if you like one, you can purchase it from one of the shops in the hotel. (We received a coupon for the gift shop, so make sure to check if you have one too if you stay here!)
If you stay here, I would definitely consider adding breakfast to your booking.
Shops and convenience stores
One thing that makes the Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima very convenient is that there are shops, cafes and restaurants inside the hotel. Here’s a quick look:
Remember the coupons I mentioned earlier? They’re inside the pamphlet pictured above, right at the bottom of the page.
Notably, there’s a FamilyMart, which is always helpful when traveling with kids or when you just want snacks, drinks, or something small without leaving the hotel. There’s also a souvenir shop with local items, so you can pick up gifts or Kagoshima products without making an extra stop elsewhere.
Is Shiroyama Hotel Good for Families?
Shiroyama Hotel was fine for us as a family, but I wouldn’t say it felt especially family-focused.
Our daughter enjoyed the aroma bar, and the room was comfortable enough and came with children’s pajamas and amenities. The FamilyMart inside the hotel was also useful, and the breakfast had kid-friendly foods, including kawaii desserts.
But I do think it would have been nice if they had something like a small playground or a kids’ area.
On that note, my daughter (age six at the time) didn’t mind the hotel whatsoever and didn’t complain at all. She was tired from the day anyway, and it was easier to check out and leave early since there was nothing particularly fun, like an indoor playground, holding us back.
Final Thoughts: Would I Stay Here Again?
Overall, I thought Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima was a little outdated and a little expensive, but I would stay here again.
The view from the onsen is fantastic, the breakfast was really good, and I still want to go back and try the happy hour and maybe have dinner at one of the hotel restaurants.
I think this hotel is worth it if you want a classic Kagoshima hotel experience, especially if seeing Sakurajima from the onsen is important to you. But if you’re looking for a place that has a lively nightlife or plenty to do with kids, this isn’t it.
Next time, I’d try to book a Grand Double room with the Sakurajima view, arrive earlier, use the onsen in the afternoon, have dinner at the hotel, and definitely not miss happy hour.
If you’re thinking of staying here, I’d check both Booking.com and Agoda before booking so you can compare prices and see which one has the better deal. Make sure to also select a room with a Sakurajima room if you want to see it from the comfort of your bed first thing in the morning.