Kagoshima Castle
鹿児島城
Built in 1601 by the Shimazu clan, this castle was notably small by design, with only its moat, walls, and the recently reconstructed Otemon Gate remaining.
〒 892-0853How to get there
市役所前6 min walk from the station
Kagoshima Castle, built in 1601 by Matsudaira Iehisa, leader of the Shimazu clan and first daimyo of the Satsuma Domain during the early Edo period, is notable for its small size and relatively poor quality as the main castle of one of the wealthiest domains in Japan. It is believed that the Shimazu clan feared giving the Tokugawa clan, with whom they were in opposition, an excuse to attack their territory by building a larger castle. The castle was destroyed in a fire in 1874, with only its moats and stone walls remaining as ruins. Only the Otemon Gate was reconstructed in 2018. Kagoshima Prefecture History and Art Center Reimeikan now occupies the site.
Getting There
Planning a trip? Fit this into a trip and Oni plans the rest around it.
Places nearby
Kagoshima Prefecture History and Art Center Reimeikan
A museum in Kagoshima that opened in 1983 and underwent a name change in 2020 to reflect its expanded focus on art and crafts, located on castle grounds.
Kagoshima
Io World Kagoshima City Aquarium
An aquarium showcasing marine life from Kagoshima's waters, including sharks, rays, dolphins, and sea lions, with interactive touch pools.
Kagoshima
Museum of the Meiji Restoration
A Kagoshima museum chronicling the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance restored imperial rule and transformed Japan.
KagoshimaYou might also like
Nagoya Castle
Castle constructed in 1612 as the center of a major Edo-era post station, destroyed in World War II bombing but reconstructed since 1957.
Nagoya · Aichi
Marugame Castle
Seventeenth-century castle with distinctive 20-meter stone walls, rebuilt in 1640 and completed in 1670, ranked among Japan's Top 100 Castles.
Marugame · Kagawa
Wakayama Castle
Sixteenth-century castle with traditional Japanese architecture, surrounded by moat and stone walls, featuring a museum and scenic garden.
Wakayama
Ohara Festival
Mass dancing in vibrant costumes and powerful taiko drumming celebrate Kagoshima's regional identity in this southern Kyushu autumn festival.
2–3 Nov 2026Kagoshima
Fukiage-hama Sand Festival
The Fukiage-hama Sand Festival turns a Kagoshima beach into a gallery of large-scale sculptures made by artists and volunteers, with cultural performances.
3–5 May 2027Exact date not confirmed yetMinamisatsuma · Kagoshima
Cosmos and Kochia Festa
About 150,000 cosmos and 3,600 kochia bushes cover a hill in the park at Suita in Osaka each October, with pink muhly grass and red buckwheat behind them.
3–30 Oct 2026Suita · Osaka
