Domain of Satsuma

The Shimazu Family took the position of the feudal lord of the domain of Satsuma in succession. The family, which once was a powerful clan in the last period of the Heian era, became a feudal lord and unified the domains of Satsuma and Osumi in the Warring States period, surrendered to Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and governed the domain that fielded 770,000 koku of rice as the leader of the outer daimyos (feudal lords) in the Edo period. At the end of the Edo period, the domain of Satsuma played an important role toward the Meiji restoration and later years in Japan by making a feudal lord of Nariakira Shimazu and Hisamitsu Shimazu who represented the influential clan as well as producing many patriots who joined the activity to overthrow the Shogunate. To go to Isoen, take a Hayashida bus that goes to the direction of Kirishima from the JR Nishi-kagoshima station and get off at the Isoen-mae stop (about a 15-minute ride).

	Walk [Know] Shouko Shuseikan This museum exhibits the materials of the Shimazu Family's history of 700 years. Especially, the cannons and shells manufactured in the most up-to-date military science factory (Shuseikan) in those days, which was built under the direction of the 28th feudal lord, Nariakira Shimazu, who had an international view, Satsuma ceramics, and leaden printing types for typography are worth seeing. This museum is open from 8:30AM to 5:30PM (8:30AM to 5:20PM from November through mid-March) every day of the year. The charge for admission is 1,500 yen (common to Shouko Shuseikan, Sengan'en, and Iso-goten). Please call 099-247-1551 for more information.
	Gourmet [Taste] "Shiokatei" This restaurant is located within the place of scenic beauty, Sengan'en (Iso-tei'en) located next to Shouko Shuseikan, which was used by the successive feudal lords as a detached residence. If you order their popular menu item "Iso-gozen", you can easily taste the Satsuma dishes such as the local specialty, Satsuma-age.