Senganen - The birthplace of Modern Japan and Villa of the Shimadzu Clan

In the late 12th century, Minamoto-no-Yoritomo appointed Koremune Tadahisa as manor lord of the Shimadzu-no-sho and protector of the fiefs of Satsuma, Osumi and Hyuga. He took on the name of the demesne and became the first in the Shimadzu line. The Shimadzu was allowed to rule over Ryukyu (Okinawa) during the Edo ear and reigned over southern Kyushu as a non-hereditary daimyo (lord) of the Tokugawa Shogun.

Sengan-en is the official name for Iso Garden. Shimadzu Mitsuhisa made the O-iso Shimotsu Hamakado Residence of Kamat Izumo Masachka and built his residence there in 1658.

Their main residence was the Tsurumaru Castle constructed by the order of the 18th lord of the Shimadzu lehisa at the foot of Shiroyama. The residence in Sengan-en has been succeeded as a villa of the Shimadzu clan, for generations.

Sengan-en was designated as a National Cultural Asset in 1958.

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Built in 1857 - fired 150 lb. canon balls and used in battle