Sengan-en Japanese garden in Kagoshima

Some of the traditional buildings at Sengan-en

The Sengan-en Japanese garden is one of the main attractions in Kagoshima and has incredible views of the bay and Sakurajima, a volcanic island.

The Sengan-en Japanese garden is one of the main attractions in Kagoshima and has incredible views of the bay and Sakurajima, a volcanic island.

 It is wonderful in all seasons and perfect for a half day visit.

View of Sakurajima island from the garden

Along with souvenir shops and other amenities, there is also the residence of the last lords of the Shimadzu clan, one of the most important in Japanese history. Nowadays,  Shimadzu is a company that manages, together with its partners, the garden and the estate. This includes the must-see workshop of precious glassware and crystal.

The glassware workshop at Sengan-en

At the workshop, you can see how the glass is worked step by step, until it becomes an object of value. The tradition of glassmaking is due to the Shimadzu clan which, once in contact with European nations, understood that they could produce high quality glassware to be used in trade. Here, in fact, we even find some colonial-style buildings from the past.

Beautiful creations at the laboratory

History of Sengan-en

Like many Japanese cities, Kagoshima suffered during the bombings of World War II and, in one of these air raids, the Shimadzu estate was heavily damaged. The glassmaking workshop and its techniques were lost.

However, the citizens of Kagoshima managed to recover the business and started producing again.  This is a noteworthy example of resilience. It shows Kagoshima's strength in overcoming hardship and its desire to show the value of its city to the world.

Kagoshima has a lot to offer and awaits your visit.