Kirishima is the place where Ryoma Sakamoto, a man of the winds at the end of the Edo period, and his wife, Oryo, visited on their first honeymoon in Japan. Surrounded by rich nature and hot springs, the healing power of this place is still alive today. Why not embark on a special trip to deepen your bond as a married couple while reminiscing about history?

This article introduces the charms of Kirishima, famous as a place associated with Ryoma, and the quiet, healing inn “Seiryu-so”.

The first honeymoon trip in Japan, as Ryoma Sakamoto and Oryo walked together.

Ryoma Sakamoto and his wife Oryo visited Kirishima in 1866. It is said that they toured the hot spring resorts of Kirishima with the support of the Satsuma clan to help Ryoma recuperate from his injuries sustained in the Teradaya Incident. This is also referred to as “Japan’s first honeymoon,” and many history buffs still follow in their footsteps. Kirishima Jingu Shrine and Shiomizu Onsen Ryoma Park are famous places where visitors can feel the romance of those days, with stone monuments and a museum inscribed with memories of Ryoma and Oryo. They are much loved by many people as a place to look back on memories of the past and nurture new bonds between the couple.

Kirishima’s hot spring and nature, where even Ryoma was healed

Kirishima has long been a land of famous hot springs nurtured by the Kirishima volcanic belt. Kirishima has long been a famous hot spring resort nurtured in the volcanic belt of Kirishima, with a wide variety of spring qualities, including sulfur and bicarbonate springs, making it a perfect place to relieve fatigue. At Shiomizu Onsen, where Ryoma is said to have actually bathed, you can enjoy a statue of Ryoma and a footbath, creating a space where history and healing are in harmony. The Kirishima mountain range, which is colored by nature from season to season, is worth seeing for its fresh greenery in spring and autumn foliage in fall, providing a luxurious time where history and nature intersect.

Seiryu-so, an inn that deepens the bond between husband and wife

The “Seiryu-so” inn, nestled in the mountains of Kirishima, is a modern-day version of the “healing” that Ryoma and Oryo sought. Guests can enjoy the location surrounded by a mountain stream and the greenery of a virgin forest, and spend a relaxing and gentle time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Another of Shizuru-so’s charms is its cuisine using local, seasonal ingredients. We are proud of our kaiseki cuisine that focuses on local production for local consumption and uses rich Kagoshima ingredients from season to season. Guests can enjoy Kurobuta shabu-shabu (black pig shabu-shabu) and a variety of other delicacies from the sea and the mountains.

Summary: “Another honeymoon” to feel the history and love.

Kirishima is a special place that carries the “path of love” that Ryoma Sakamoto and Oryo walked down to the present day. The time spent at Shizuru-so will not be just a stay at
but a “milestone trip” to look back on the history of the couple and to think about the future.
Kirishima as a new “honeymoon” destination. Now is the time to relax your mind and body in this place surrounded by history and nature.