Explore the Stately Home and Garden of a Samurai Lord

Take in the beauty of Kagoshima’s Sengan-en

Sengan-en is a classic Japanese manor house and garden, a tranquil oasis just 20 minutes from Kagoshima’s city center.

Spread over 12 acres, the estate was built in 1658 by the 19th head of the Shimazu clan, a storied lineage of samurai lords who ruled this part of Japan. Stroll in the footsteps of proud warriors who shaped Japan’s history and share the inspiration they must have felt gazing out on panoramic views of glittering Kinkowan Bay and Mt. Sakurajima, an active volcano.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is set within  the natural beauty of Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park and adjoined by the Shoko Shuseikan Museum, which explores the over 800-year history of the Shimazu Clan, the region’s industrial heritage, and the modernization of Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912). For a closer look at another local export, admire the skilled craftsmanship on display at the Satsuma Kiriko Glassworks. Here, they produce Satsuma Kiriko, a cut-glass style characterized by vivid colors, fine cuts, and a color gradation called bokashi, and which can be purchased at the on-site shop.

Access: From Hakata Station, take the Kyushu Shinkansen to Kagoshima-Chuo Station (about one hour 40 minutes), then transfer to the Nangoku Kanko bus to the Inari-cho stop (about 15 minutes) and walk about 15 minutes to Sengan-en.

Sengan-en and Shoko Shuseikan Museum