Akamizu Observation Plaza

This popular spot was built on the site where one of Japan’s most iconic singer-songwriters, Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, held an all-night concert in 2004. From the plaza, you can admire a sweeping view of Sakurajima stretching across the horizon, while also enjoying a stunning panorama of Kagoshima City across Kinko Bay.

Adding to the unique scenery are massive solidified lava flows left behind from a volcanic eruption about 100 years ago, offering a quintessential Sakurajima landscape. On the right side of the plaza’s entrance stands its symbolic monument, Portrait of a Scream, a powerful artwork created by sculptor Hiroshi Taisei. The piece, made by carving and stacking Sakurajima’s volcanic rock, commemorates the aforementioned concert. Its striking presence draws many fans to visit this iconic location.