Japan Blogg NTIG T4-22

2023-01-22

A day exploring Kagoshimas history

By: Markus Piotrowski

Kagoshima

Kirishima Jingu Shrine

Today we went exploring two beautiful and historical places in Kagoshima. The first place is called Kirishima Jingu Shrine. There we looked at many beautiful structures, like the main shrine building where we all made a small offering and a wish. When everyone had made their wish we headed into the forest to look at a smaller shrine where you could make another wish or hang up fortune paper which you can buy at the shrine.

The main shrine

The forest shrine

Picture of the forest

Sengan-en Garden Kagoshima

After the shrine, we went to a cultural heritage site north of downtown Kagoshima built by the Shimazu Clan. There we had a guided tour where they explained the history of the building being a home for the shogun (the head of the samurai) and the importance of it during the industrial era where they created the first steel foundries in Japan. After the tour, we could look around the garden and see all the amazing architecture and plants.

Picture of the Shoguns house

Picture of a pond in the garden

Picture of the garden

Picture of another pond in the garden