Sengan-en is an expansive Japanese garden overlooking Sakurajima, an active volcano that is the symbol of Kagoshima. Built in 1658 as a villa for the Shimadzu clan, who ruled Southern Kyushu for a generations, the residence, where the feudal lord lived, also served as a guest house for domestic and foreign dignitaries from the end of the Edo period up until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Covering nearly 50,000m², the massive site is dotted with historical and cultural attractions and natural landscapes.

There is also a restaurant and cafe where you can enjoy local cuisine, and a souvenir shop where you can buy Kagoshima specialties such as Satsuma kiriko glass, Satsuma ware pottery, and sweet potato shochu. Guided tours of the garden are also available in English.