Shimadzu

One such location is the house and gardens of the Shimadzu family, Sengan-en. Sengan-en is a stately home and landscape garden built in 1658 as one of the residences of the Shimadzu clan. The garden's most striking feature is its use of active volcano Sakurajima and Kagoshima Bay as borrowed scenery. The gardens cover over 12 acres and include calm... ing ponds, gently bubbling streams, mysterious shrines, a bamboo grove, and a mountain hiking trail. The crane lantern, which was Japan's first gas light, is a reminder of when Nariakira would have walked around the gardens, dreaming of the bright future waiting for his country. The Bogakuro Pavillion, a gift from the king of Okinawa, is a symbol of the gateway to trade with the outside world. High on the mountainside, the huge characters carved into the cliff face show the influence of Chinese culture on the Shimadzu. At the center of the gardens is the house that was cherished by generations of the Shimadzu family. Visits to the house made by members of Western royalty affirm the status that Japan achieved through its industrial endeavours. Next to the gardens and located in Japan's oldest stone build factory, built in 1865, is the Shoko Shuseikan Museum. The building is a National Important Cultural Property and is the home to a wealth of historical records and displays related to the history of the Shimadzu clan, and the industrialisation that took place in the area in the late 19th Century. The Shimadzu clan has a history of over 800 years, and our mission is to protect and promote this legacy whilst working for the benefit of the people of Kagoshima. Kamakura Period WarriorsRead More