* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Kagoshima Castle (Tsurumaru Castle)
鹿児島城（鶴丸城）
Kagoshima Castle (Tsurumaru Castle) is a historic castle in Kyūshū dating from the Built in 1601 (Keichō 6), whose lord was Shimazu Iehisa (first domain lord) / Shimazu clan.
Overview
Kagoshima Castle (Tsurumaru) was built in 1601 by the first Satsuma domain lord, Shimazu Iehisa. True to the Shimazu clan's legendary warrior ethos — 'soldiers are the castle's keep' — the fortress had no main tower, relying instead on vast moats, massive stone walls, and the natural cliff face of Shiroyama behind it. The Satsuma domain's 770,000-koku power was the greatest among outside lords. In 1877 the castle hill became the site of Saigō Takamori's last stand in the Satsuma Rebellion. Adjacent to the castle, the Shōkoshūseikan museum displays 800 years of Shimazu clan treasures including exceptional swords.
Connection to Swords
The Shimazu clan, lords of Satsuma, fostered the Namihira school (Namihira-ha) — one of Japan's oldest continuous swordsmiths lineages, active in Satsuma from the late Heian period. Their swords featured powerful physiques suited to the explosive Jigen-ryū style of swordsmanship ('the first strike of Satsuma Jigen-ryū cannot be blocked'). Shimazu Nariakira had a scientific interest in metallurgy and sword-forging chemistry as part of his modernization efforts. The Shōkoshūseikan museum next to the castle displays an outstanding collection of Shimazu-clan blades ranging from medieval masterworks to Edo-period Namihira pieces.
Highlights
- Reconstructed Gorōmon gate (2020) — one of Japan's largest castle gates
- Shōkoshūseikan Museum — 800 years of Shimazu clan treasures: swords, armor, Satsuma ware
- Shiroyama observation deck — panoramic views of Sakurajima and Kinko Bay
- Shiroyama Cave — Saigō Takamori's final refuge during the Satsuma Rebellion
- Sengan-en (Iso Garden) — Shimazu clan villa with Sakurajima as backdrop
- Jigen-ryū swordsmanship experience — the legendary Satsuma one-strike style
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.