Kirishima City is located in the center of Kagoshima Prefecture and is a relatively new city, formed through a merger in 2005. Kirishima City is home to the Kirishima Mountains, Japan's first national park, and is a scenic city overlooking Sakurajima, the symbol of Kagoshima. Tourism and industry continue to develop in the plains, resulting in vibrant economic activity. Kirishima City is also still in the spotlight as the place where Sakamoto Ryoma and his wife, Oryo, took their first honeymoon in Japan. Kirishima City has long served as a key hub connecting it to Miyazaki Prefecture thanks to the development of national highways and railways, and has developed into one of Kagoshima Prefecture's leading cities. Furthermore, it is a famous tourist destination, home to Mount Kirishima, the Hatsuuma Festival at Kagoshima Shrine, and the Kirishima Hot Springs area.