Sengan-en is a historic garden in Kagoshima that is well worth visiting. It was once a villa of the Shimadzu family, lords of the Satsuma Domain. The entire grounds are nestled between the mountains and the sea, skillfully blending Japanese garden design with magnificent natural scenery. As you stroll around, you can admire sights such as the Kyokusui Garden, the residence, bamboo groves, and old stone lanterns, with every corner exuding a rich sense of history. Most impressive of all is the majestic view of Sakurajima volcano from the garden. Together with Kinko Bay in the foreground, it looks like a grand landscape painting of mountains and sea. I couldn't help but envy the life of the Shimadzu daimyo, who had such an exceptionally beautiful place to live.
I also have a special attachment to Sengan-en because it was one of the filming locations for the NHK historical drama “Atsuhime.” Aoi Miyazaki's nuanced and masterful performance vividly portrayed Atsuhime's strong, intelligent, and extraordinary life, leaving a deep impression on me. Many scenes from the drama were filmed at Sengan-en. Walking through the grounds in person this time felt like stepping back into that era along with the story, adding a sense of familiarity and emotion to the garden scenery before me. If you also like “Atsuhime,” I highly recommend planning a visit to Sengan-en to experience the settings from the historical drama and the former splendor of the Satsuma Domain for yourself.
