View of Sakurajima | Sheraton Kagoshima vs Shiroyama Hotel
Without a doubt, Sakurajima Volcano is the top landmark for tourism in Kagoshima, so I booked one night each at the Sheraton, famous for its views, and the Shiroyama Hotel. Comparing the two, I personally prefer the Sheraton, which is indeed one of the best Sheratons I have stayed at so far.
In terms of location, neither hotel is in the very center of Kagoshima City, but both have shuttle buses running regularly to the central station. However, since Shiroyama is on a hill, the Sheraton is much more convenient, with a tram and bus stop right at the hotel entrance, and it takes just over ten minutes to reach the observatory and central station.
The design style of the Sheraton completely matches my aesthetic. The hotel faces Sakurajima Volcano directly and uses a lot of borrowed scenery concepts. Whether in the room or the lounge, you can perfectly enjoy the majestic volcano and Kinko Bay through floor-to-ceiling windows. Overall, the facilities at Shiroyama are much older, and although well maintained, the Sheraton is definitely much newer.
The hot spring view is undoubtedly better at Shiroyama on the hilltop, where you can sit in the open-air bath and immerse yourself in the view of the volcano without any obstruction. The environment is also the classic large bath style of traditional Japanese hotels. However, due to the hotel's size, the bath tends to be much more crowded than at the Sheraton.
Regarding food, Shiroyama offers a much wider variety of breakfast options, but the taste is similar at both places. If you are a high-tier member, the Sheraton’s lounge is quite impressive, with a good selection of happy hour snacks and a wide range of drinks to try, many of which are specialties from Kyushu Island.