Things to Do in Kagoshima

A UNESCO World Heritage Site garden that once belonged to the ruling Shimazu clan, the Sengan-en Garden in Kagoshima includes the Shoko Shuseikan Museum and the Iso Residence, used as a summer villa by the Shimazu family. The Japanese-style strolling garden, which dates from the mid-17th century, features streams, ponds, and shrines.

Located within the Sengan-en Garden, the Shoko Shuseikan Museum follows the history of the Shimazu clan, who once ruled this part of Japan. The building itself, built in the mid-19th century, was one of the first Western-style buildings in the country. Together, the Sengan-en Garden and Shoko Shuseikan Museum comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site.