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About Kirishima City and Kagoshima National College of Technology

Kirishima City is located in the middle of Kagoshima Prefecture. In the north lie the picturesque Kirishima mountains as the National Park. In the south spreads out a fertile plain, adjoining Kinko Bay and overlooking majestic Mt. Sakurajima, an active volcano. The clear, rich Amori River rises in the Kirishima mountains and flows through the countryside into the sea. The City has also a great number of hot springs from the foot of mountains to the plain.

Kagoshima National College of Technology(KNCT) is located at Hayato Town in Kirishima City. KNCT was established in April of 1963 to meet a strong demand from the Kagoshima prefectural government and local industries for qualified engineers. Since then, KNCT has accepted junior school graduates for a five-year program in integrated technological education. KNCT has five departments: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Electronic Control Engineering, Information Engineering, and Civil Engineering. In April of 2000, a two-year specialized course was established in addition to the five-year regular course. The advanced course provides two more years of integrated technological education and confers a Bachelor of Engineering degree equivalent to that of four-year universities. KNCT graduates are well-regarded and have played an active role in industry-centered fields.

Access to Kirishima City
From Kagoshima Chuo Station in the center of Kagoshima City to Hayato Station in Kirishima City, it takes approximately 40 minutes by JR (Japan Railways). By Express Bus from Fukuoka City, it takes approximately 3.5 hours (note to get off at Kagoshima Airport).

 

About Kagoshima City
 Kagoshima City is the center of Kagoshima Prefecture. It used to be a castle town of the Shimazu clan in the flourishing feudal age, but now is an active modern city with a population of 600,000. The City commands a magnificent view of Sakurajima volcano and is called "Naples of the Orient." It has a lot of museums and libraries, where the visitors must learn the attractive and surprising history of Kagoshima. As for food culture, there are various kinds of restaurants which serve "Satsuma" cuisine, Kagoshima local dishes, and shochu, Japanese spirits. The big events such as Kagoshima Kinko Bay Summer Night Fireworks Display and Ohara Festival fascinate a great number of people.

Access to Kagoshima City
From Hakata Station in Fukuoka City to Kagoshima Chuo Station, it takes only 2 hours and 12 minutes on the fastest train (note train exchage at Shin-Yatsushiro Station, 8,920 yen). By Express Bus, it takes approximately 4 hours and cheaper (5,300 yen).

 

Kagoshima Airport
Flight travel time from Fukuoka Airport to Kagoshima Airport is approximately 45 minutes. The Kagoshima Airport is located at the west side in Kirishima City. Transport to Kagoshima City is available by Airport Shuttle Bus (1,200 yen). Travel time to the Kagoshima Chuo Station in the center of Kagoshima City is approximately 45 minutes. Travel time to the center of Kirishima City is approximately 20 minutes by taxi.

Click here for more information on Kagoshima Airport.


Immigration/Travel Visa
A foreign national must, in principle, satisfy the following conditions for landing in Japan before he is permitted to enter the country with the status of residence and period of stay authorized.

  • The foreign national must hold a valid passport.
  • A valid visa must be affixed to the passport, unless the foreign national is exempt.
  • The activities that the foreign national will be engaged in while in Japan as stated in the application must be true and must fall under one of the status of residence categories.
  • The period of stay as requested in the application must comply with the provisions of the Ministry of Justice Ordinance.
  • The foreign national must not fall under any of the grounds for denial of landing.

Visa is not required for most foreigners travelling into Japan.
Please click here (A Guide to Japanese Visas) to check if you require a Visa to enter Japan.

All foreigners get fingerprinted and photographed upon entering Japan as a measure aimed at preventing terrorism.
Click here for more information on Immigration Bureau of Japan.
Click here for more information on Immigration Procedures Guidebook.

Weather
The mean temperature in September at Kagoshima is 25.8 °C (Japan Meteorological Agency).

Time Zone
Japan is nine hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Singapore is eight hours ahead of the GMT.

Electricity/Water
Electricity used in Kagoshima is 100 volts AC, 60Hz.

Tap water in Japan is very safe and drinkable anywhere. Bottled and mineral water is available at hotels, convenience stores, and supermarkets.

Currency/Currency Exchange
The local currency is yen. Foreign currencies can be changed at airports and banks.
Money exchange to japanese yen (Kagoshima Travel Guide)

Credit Cards
Major credit and charge cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners, are widely accepted at most establishments. The most popular credit card in Japan is JCB, and you can use Discover cards anywhere with a JCB logo. You can use your credit card anywhere in Japan, but please note that small shop, some restaurant will not accept. Japan is still fundamentally a cash society. Japanese prefer to pay by cash than credit card. The use of credit cards is becoming more widespread, but they are still refused at many places. There are three places in Kagohima city where you can use a credit card to get cash advances (banking: use of credit cards).

International Calls
The international country code for Japan is 81. To make international calls from Japan, dial 001. To make international calls from Japan through an operator, dial 0051 only. To ask about international calls, dial 0057 only.

Mobile Phone
Due to different technologies, mobile phones from your home country may not work in Japan. In Japan, there is no GSM network, so GSM phones do not work.

Useful links (in English)
JAL Tourist Information
Kagoshima Airport
JR (Japan Railways) Kyushu
JR (Japan Railways) Kyushu Shinkansen Tsubame
Highway Express Bus (Fukuoka - Kagoshima Airport South)

Kagoshima Travel Guide
Kagoshima City Guide

Useful links (in Japanese)
Kagoshima Airport
JR (Japan Railways) Kyushu
JR (Japan Railways) Kyushu Shinkansen Tsubame
JR (Japan Railways) Kyushu Tsubame
Highway Express Bus (Fukuoka - Kagoshima Airport South)

Kagoshima Pref. Tourism Division
Kagoshima Travel Guide
Kagoshima City Guide

City Kirishima Sightseeing Information