The Sengan-en Hina Matsuri, or Girls' Day Festival beings on February 15th and continues until April 26th. A collection of Hina dolls and their intricately detailed accessories will be on display at the Shoko Shuseikan Museum Annex.
Try your hand at making a traditional doll only found in the Kagoshima region to celebrate the Girl's Festival
Pray for the health and long life of your feline friends at one of Japan's most unusual shrines
Slip back in time and experience a traditional poetry recital held by a winding stream. Kyokusui-no-en is a major event at Sengan-en and is held once a year.
Gogatsu-nobori are a Shimadzu family tradition celebrating the boy's day festival that stretches back generations. Seven huge poles are erected in the garden and adorned with streamers decorated with climbing dragons and the crests of the Shimadzu family.
Enjoy a powerful performance of taiko drumming from Noda-go Shimadzu Taiko. Feel the echo of the drums around the garden against the impressive backdrop of active volcano Sakurajima.
Dressed in full armour, the members of the Hioki Teppo-tai will show why the Shimadzu were feared on the battlefield with a thunderous display of traditional gunnery.
Irises were much loved by the samurai for their beautiful flowers, which fade and die in only a few days. For the samurai this represented the fleeting nature of life and nobility in death.
The 28th head of the Shimadzu family, Nariakira, was a huge fan of morning glories and even bred several subspecies of his own. The delicate blues, purples, and pinks provide a cooling backdrop to the heat of the Kagoshima summer.
Tanabata, sometimes called the star festival is held each year on the 7th of July. At Sengan-en we follow the Tanabata traditions of the Shimadzu family and display paper streamers on giant moso bamboo.
Delight in the display of over 15,000 chrysanthemums against the stunning backdrop of active volcano Sakurajima. Impressive display pieces, mannequins wearing flower kimono, and carefully manicured bonsai bring a wave of colour to Sengan-en.
