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.