Mai Terauchi, Local Guide ~ An Original Japan Travel Guide by Hoshino Resorts' Local Staff

Local Guide

Mai Terauchi

Loves shochu and is loved by Satsuma girls

She is a Satsuma girl who loves shochu and is loved by shochu.
She is also passionate about Kagoshima's crafts and sweets, and her obsession with them is evident in the stores in Hoshino Resorts KAI Kirishima. By the time she has finished talking about everything, she may or may not have a bottle empty.

Hoshino Resorts KAI Kirishima: Located halfway up the mythical Takachiho Peak, all Guest rooms have an open view of Sakurajima. The hot spring ryokan is a place where you can enjoy a hot spring bath and free your body and soul while admiring the view over the Kirishima Plateau, with a hot spring bathing hut standing in the sooty meadow beyond the slope car. The highlight of the festival is a dynamic performance expressing the descent of the grandchildren.

Introduction page

Local Guide FAQ

What spots in the Kirishima area do you recommend?: Shiroyama Park.
There are many castle parks in Kagoshima, but Shiroyama Park in the Kirishima area has the best view of Sakurajima and the city of Kirishima from the top of the hill.

Please sneak in some hole-in-the-wall places that you know because you live there.: We recommend "Senrigataki Waterfall" located a short drive uphill from Hoshino Resorts KAI Kirishima. There is a large waterfall in a place that makes you wonder, "Is there really a waterfall here?" When I first visited, I walked along the road, half in disbelief and nervous as I walked along the road. I felt as if I had wandered into the world of a Ghibli film.
You will have to wait until you get there to find out what kind of road it is to the waterfall...!

What is your most memorable trip?: A Restaurant I visited in my hometown of Kagoshima a few years ago has moved to Kyoto, and I really wanted to try the food there again, so I visited Kyoto to eat alone.
Not only the presentation of the food, but also the pairings were amped up, and I was very impressed with the non-alcoholic pairings. I was able to talk with the chef and was very satisfied not only with the five senses but also with the six senses.

What do you do on your days off?: Once a month, I go back to my parents' house (Kasasa Town) located at the tip of Kagoshima Prefecture and drive around the town. There are many spots overlooking the ocean, and watching the sun set into the horizon at dusk without thinking about it is a magical way to reset my mind.

Is there anything you always take with you on a trip?: Earphones are indispensable. I recently switched to wireless earphones. It is great to listen to my favorite music while watching the scenery as well as while traveling. Even after the trip is over, I remember the trip when I play the songs I listened to at that time.