Chiran Samurai Residence Garden
Overview
Wander along a 700 m lane lined with stone walls and meticulously trimmed hedges into Chiran’s historic samurai district. Seven heritage gardens await—five dry gardens that evoke minimalist elegance and one pond garden offering a water-filled retreat. Enjoy Edo-era defensive architecture designed for ambush, with pathways and hedges that guard while offering glimpses of nature. A visit reveals the cultural depth and serene beauty of samurai life beneath the shadow of Mt. Hahagatake.
Known as the “Little Kyoto of Satsuma,” this historic samurai district features more than 500 Edo-period residences with preserved stone walls, hedges, and seven traditional gardens.
Seven gardens are open to the public, six in the dry “karesansui” style and one pond garden in Tsukiyama Sensui style .
The layout—with narrow, winding paths and tall hedges—is a clever defensive design from the Edo era .
The gardens incorporate borrowed scenery such as Mt. Hahagatake and use local volcanic ash (Shirasu) in their design
Basic Information
Address:
13731‑1 Chiran‑chō Kōri, Minamikyūshū, Kagoshima 897‑0302
Phone Number:
0993‑58‑7878 (Garden Office)
Business hours:
9:00 AM–5:00 PM, open year‑round
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