"Sengan-en Garden" is one of Kagoshima's most famous sightseeing spots. The daimyo garden within the grounds is famous as one of the most beautiful places to see Sakurajima. This time, we will introduce three traditional cultural experiences that can be experienced at Sengan-en Garden, which do not require prior reservations.
Sengan-en Garden, a famous scenic spot, is located about 35 minutes by bus from JR Kagoshima Chuo Station. It was built in 1658 as a villa for the Shimazu clan by the 19th head of the family, Mitsuhisa. The daimyo garden, with Sakurajima and Kinko Bay as its backdrop, covers an area of about 59,000 square meters and has many attractions, including a palace, a crane lantern, and a cat shrine, which is rare even in Japan.
Furthermore, the area where Sengan-en is located is the foundation of Japan's modernization, and was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015.
The traditional culture experience facility is located in the middle of Sengan-en, with the reception on the first floor and the experience floor on the second floor. The experience floor is a bright room with a view of Sakurajima through the windows, and is furnished with several tables and chairs.
The first experience we had was "Crafting with Cut Glass Pieces" (experience fee 1000 yen, duration about 30 minutes). We made it using pieces of cut glass that are produced during the process of making "Satsuma Cut Glass", a traditional craft of Kagoshima Prefecture.
First of all, select a frame. There are about 10 kinds of stars, hearts, triangles, cats, etc., and this time I chose a silver frame of a cat with a bottom.
Next, on top of the frame, I put a piece of shimmer and translucent Satsuma Kiriko with tweezers. I choose a piece according to the pattern I want to draw from a case that is divided by color, such as red, blue or yellow.
The size of the grains of the shake varies, and it depends on you what kind of pattern and color you want, and you will arrange the shake while imagining the finish.
When you have finished the pattern you have envisioned, you will slowly put the resin (resin) on the corners of the frame without any gaps using a toothpick.
After applying the resin, smooth the surface with a toothpick and wait for about 4 minutes under a UV light to harden the resin. The cat-shaped frame has a bottom, so you only need to harden one side, but the other frames do not have a bottom, so you need to harden both sides for about 4 minutes.
When the regin hardens firmly, it is completed!
You can also enjoy the arrangement, such as choosing your favorite strap (included in the experience fee) and attaching it to the finished product as a key holder, or replacing it with your own chain and using it as a pendant.
The next challenge was the "Shihan-teki Bow and Arrow Experience" (experience fee 500 yen, required time about 5 minutes). Shihan-teki involves shooting arrows at a target 8.2 meters away while sitting upright, and there are records that warlords in the Sengoku period performed this as entertainment at banquets.
It looks difficult, but you can feel free to challenge it because you will be able to teach you how to hold strings and bows. People who are difficult to sit in a chair can experience it.
With your left hand, you hold the middle part of the bow, then the arrow to the bowstring, at this time, holding the palm to the goo, then only the thumb out, and holding the arrowhead with your thumb and forefinger as if pinching the arrowhead at the point.
While holding the arrowhead on the strings, he pulls his right hand back and holds it around his own cheek. When he takes aim and releases the arrowhead, the arrowhead flies in an instant.
Since there are five arrows, it seems that the hitting rate will increase if you intend to hit the fourth and fifth while adjusting the height and target position to hold the bow little by little.
If the arrow hits the target, you will get a cross can badge (either red or blue) on the Shimazu family's family crest or circle, and if you hit it in the middle of the splendid middle, you will get a ticket for a specialty snack and a two-stick rice cake!
The last experience we had was making "Oshima Tsumugi Sachets" using bags made from Oshima Tsumugi, a traditional craft (experience fee: 1,000 yen per bag, takes about 15 minutes).
Choose your favorite scent from about eight different fragrances, such as sandalwood, clove, and orange peel, and blend them to create a one-of-a-kind sachet (the fragrances in the sachets change depending on the season).
The flavorings can be packed up to six cups with a spoon, so you can make your own flavor, such as six cups of one kind of fragrance and one cup of six kinds of fragrance.
Smell the scents to find your favorite. This time, I chose two types of fragrance: sandalwood and clove. Gently place six spoonfuls of the fragrance on a piece of washi paper so that the fragrance doesn't escape.
The washi paper containing the fragrance is folded into a small size, and placed together with the cotton in a small Oshima Tsumugi bag, which is then tightly tied with string. Oshima Tsumugi bags come in a variety of patterns, from chic to bright, and you can also choose the color of the string.
It's done, the bag on the left is the finished product! (The bag on the right is the work of the production example) You can use it in a variety of ways, such as carrying it in a bag, or in a drawer of a closet or a wardrobe to transfer the scent to clothes.
In the experience facility, there are four kinds of experiences that do not require a reservation, and one kind of experience that is necessary.
"Satsuma ware painting" is an experience where you can paint an original picture on Satsuma ware, which has a 400-year history. After painting a small white Satsuma ware plate (experience fee 4,000 yen, required time 60 minutes), it will be fired and shipped in about two weeks (shipping included).
''Sand Blast'' (experience fee 3000 yen, 60 minutes), which allows you to blow sand on transparent glasses and engrave patterns and characters, can be taken home on the day of the experience, so it seems to be pleased with gifts and souvenirs for family and friends.
In fact, Sengan-en was the first place in Japan where "Moso bamboo" was planted. "Bamboo crafts" (experience fee 500 yen, required time about 5 minutes) allows you to freely decorate bamboo dragonflies and windmills by coloring them and pasting colored paper on them. This experience is open to children aged 3 and over, so it's a fun challenge for parents and children to try together.
If you want to have a full-fledged production experience, "Satsuma Kiriko Cut" (gold-red glass cut 35000 yen, transparent glass cut 17000 yen Both take a time of one hour. How about a two-color keychain 6000 yen, about 30 minutes)? You can experience cutting work in earnest under the guidance of craftsmen.
We recommend pre-booking from the official site because it is a popular menu.
One experience that can only be had at Sengan-en is the "Kimono Dressing" experience (reservations required). Strolling through the feudal lord's garden wearing "Oshima Tsumugi" (experience fee 6,000 yen, required time 60 minutes) or "Kosode Goro" (experience fee 7,000 yen, required time 60 minutes) sounds like fun!
In addition, there are clothes with a helmet and armor, which have been restored based on the collection of the Shimazu family, as well as a straight-down dress, which is a full dress of the samurai, and a water basin worn by children. Photographers (3000 yen separately) are also possible.
Sengan-en offers a wide variety of cultural experiences, from short, casual ones to more authentic ones that can only be had here. Why not try out the wide variety of experiences to create some great memories from your trip?
Address: 9700-1 Yoshino-cho, Kagoshima, Kagoshima
TEL:099-247-1551
Opening hours: 9 to 17 o'clock (experience facilities are accepted at 9: 00 to 16: 30)
Closed: No holidays (closed on the first Sunday of March)
Price: 1600 yen for general, 800 yen for small, middle and high school students (common to Shoko Shuseikan)
We introduce popular shops around Kagoshima Ramen's two major battlefields, Astronomy Hall and Kagoshima Chuo Station. Pay attention to the specialty of each shop, and enjoy a proud cup full of personality! What is Kagoshima Ramen? Homemade noodles
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