Built in 1658, the former residence of Shimazu clan (the lords of Satsuma Domain) boasts an extensive Japanese garden and a close-up view of Sakurajima.
Water meanders through the garden. Kagoshima is located at the southern end of Kyushu (excluding smaller islands further south such as Amami and Okinawa.) Its lush green presents some tropical atmosphere (at least to someone from Tokyo like myself.) For a moment you may feel as if you were deep in a valley.
Chinese influence can be seen such as the large characters (11 meters high) carved into the rock cliff. I had never seen anything like it.
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The bamboo grove started from two stalks imported from China through Ryukyu (Okinawa) in the 18th century.
Sengan-en also showcases the prescience of Shimazu Nariakira, the 11th lord of Satsuma Domain. He spearheaded industrial modernization in the mid-19th century in order to strengthen military power and counter threat by the West. The remains of reverberatory furnace and adjacent Shoko Shuseikan Museum (closed though to the end of October 2024) form a part of the UNESCO World Heritage "Sites of Meiji Industrial Revolution."
After visiting the garden, you can walk to Satsuma Kiriko crystal glass factory next door. The Satsuma Kiriko was one of the trades launched by Nariakira but was discontinued after his death. Then it was reestablished by the current Shimazu family in the 1980's. You can see how the high-quality glassware is handmade by artisans today.
