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Kagoshima Castle

鹿児島城Kagoshima

Historic area

What makes this place special?

At a Glance

Kagoshima Castle, also known as Tsurumaru Castle, is the former seat of the Shimazu clan in the city of Kagoshima. Shimazu Tadatsune began building it in 1601 and finished in 1604, as a fortified residence with a moat and low walls rather than a castle with a tall keep. That modest design is often read as a sign of the clan's submission to the Tokugawa shogunate.

The old grounds now hold the Reimeikan history museum, the prefectural library, the city art museum and the prefectural museum. Stone walls, moats and a stone bridge survive, and the walls of Saigo Takamori's former private school carry marks said to date from the Satsuma Rebellion. The Gorōmon main gate was rebuilt in wood from surviving records and opened to the public in 2020. The moat is known for its lotus plants, and the ruins are a National Historic Site.

Goshuin within a short walk

Temples, shrines and castles near Kagoshima Castle that give goshuin, closest first.

How do I visit?

Visit Duration

60 minutes

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