A luxurious and elegant Hina Matsuri festival where visitors can feel the culture of a former Daimyo, the Shimadzu family

The Hina dolls and Hina tools passed down along the Shimadzu family

Many spring events, such as Kyokusui-no-en, a traditional poetry composition event, are held every year at Sengan-en Garden, where spring flowers, such as plum flowers and cherry blossom, bloom from February to April. Around the garden, Hina doll and tools that are handed down by the Shimazu family are displayed to convey the story of the rich Daimyo culture.

Let’s feel the Daimyo culture

Yushokubina dolls

The Shimadzu family that was worth 720,000 koku in the kokudaka system was one of the top-earning daimyos in Japan during the Bakumatsu period. The Hina dolls and tools that were passed down in the Shimazu family are exhibited at the Shoko Shueikan Museum, which is located next to Sengan-en Garden.
When entering the exhibition room, visitors will be greeted by the stunning Hina dolls and tools that are lined up in five rows of 6-meter width. The Hina dolls are of ”Yushokubina” type, which are clad in the exact replica of elegant court costumes. The Hina tools are said to have been brought in during the wedding ceremony of Takehime, the adopted daughter of the fifth Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, and there are 407 items covering 99 types of tools. In 2008, it was designated as a Kagoshima Prefecture’s Designated Tangible Cultural Asset.
The Hina tools of the Daimyo family were made carefully to truly resemble the real furnishing goods that a bride offered for her marriage and display the magnificence of the assets that a princess from the Shogun family owned. Also, beautiful ”Gosho dolls” and ”Mitsuore dolls” (movable sculpted dolls that princesses used as toys) are also displayed.

Kyokusui-no-en

Kyokusui-no-en is the most significant event. On Sunday, April 5, 2020, an old-fashioned style of Kyokusui-no-en will be held in the ”Kyokusui-no-niwa”, located inside the Sengan-en Garden. The Kyokusui-no-niwa of Sengan-en Garden that was excavated in 1959 is the largest of its class in Japan, and it is highly regarded for its highly-preserved condition. In the event, people dressed in elegant banquet costumes sit beside a small stream, where a sake cup floats by. Before the cup floats in front of a person, he/she must compose and recite a poem. This event is said to be the root of the Hina Matsuri festival.

Nagashi-bina

During the event, a bamboo boat carrying small Hina dolls known as “Nagashi-bina” floats along the stream, symbolizing a wish for women to have a healthy year. There is also a ”Satsuma Itobina-making class” for visitors to make lovely Itobina dolls.
Spring is also the season with the most flowers, such as Kanhi cherry blossoms, camellias, and plums, and the sight of these flower with the melodious calls of the local birds will help you relieve the stress from your daily life.
In Kyushu, the Kanhi cherry blossoms can be enjoyed from early February, and five kinds of cherry blossoms can be enjoyed until late April.