Start your year with -- a VOLCANIC EXPLOSION! Japan's most active volcano is also a great place for lava trail hiking, hot spring bathing and pure adventure.
Where is this magical volcano you ask" It's down on Kyushu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture (1,300km from Tokyo) and that ash and fire throwing cone is SAKURAJIMA!
You can get there by ferry in 15 minutes from the city center for a ridiculous 180 yen / $1.50, about 4km across the sea.

Sakurajima is famous for island mikan, much smaller and sweeter than on the mainland. The Sakurajima DAIKON RADISH which can weigh as much as 45kg is also well known. It's the biggest radish in the world. (Are you excited yet")
If radishes aren't enough, there's that LAVA TRAIL and loads of paths for bicycling. Not far away are sea view onsen baths where you can soak up those minerals and long views across the sea.
The Sakurajima Visitor's Center is the place to start your adventure.
Inside, data on the island's volcanic activity and history is all documented with diagrams and videos. There's also a gift shop with some cool things to buy.

I went in the off season (January) but that shouldn't stop you from visiting. It just means you get the whole place to yourself.

The population on Sakurajima is quite old. I met a 97 year old woman who was walking around just fine. She was half my size but seemed to have twice my energy so I think there's something truly magical about this island. I hope some of that magic rubs off on...