Sengan-en is a Japanese style stately home and landscape garden along the coast north of downtown Kagoshima. Sengan-en was built in 1658 as one of the residences of the powerful Shimadzu clan. One of the garden's most striking features is its use of active volcano Sakurajima and Kagoshima Bay as borrowed scenery. The gardens cover 50,000 square meters and include calming ponds, bubbling streams, mysterious shrines, a bamboo grove, and a mountain hiking trail. Visit Tsurugane Shrine and pray to become more beautiful, or the unusual Cat Shrine and pray for the health and longevity of your feline friend! The expansive house provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of one of Japan’s most influential feudal lords, and hosted Edward VIII of the UK and Nicholas II of Russia among others. See the rooms that the lord spent his daily life in and enjoy the view of the gardens and scenery beyond as only a samurai lord could. The area next to the gardens was the site of the Shuseikan project at the end of the 1800s, and contributed greatly to the modernization of Japan. Recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2015. The expansive gardens boast an array of beautiful blooms in each of the four seasons. ◇Typical best viewing period: Early February - Early April ◇Number of cherry trees: ~150
Basic Information
Business Days
Open all year round [Time] 9:00am~5:00pm [Notes] Closed on Kagoshima marathon's day
Price
Adults ¥1,000
Senior high school students ¥1,000
Junior high school students ¥500
Elementary school students ¥500
Directions
From Kagoshima Chuo Station take the Kagoshima City View tour bus, and ride to Senganen-mae.
Telephone Number
099-247-1551 ※Japan's International Country Code is 81