Chiran Traditional Buildings Preservation District

Overview

The Chiran Traditional Buildings Preservation District, located in Gun, Chiran-cho, Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima Prefecture, is an area where Edo-period samurai residences stand. Chiran prospered as an important base of the Satsuma Domain, developing a samurai settlement known as 'Fumoto,' where many samurai lived. The Chiran Traditional Buildings Preservation District retains a strong sense of that era and is designated as a Group of Important Traditional Buildings. Within the preservation district, samurai residences with gardens designated as places of scenic beauty are scattered, each offering unique charm. For example, the Saigo Keiichiro Garden is a pond garden with a magnificent view of Haha-gatake mountain. The Hirayama Katsumi Garden is a karesansui (dry landscape) garden, a simple yet profound garden expressed through white sand and stones. The Sada Naotada Garden is a strolling garden, a beautiful garden overflowing with seasonal flowers. These gardens offer a glimpse into the lifestyles and aesthetics of the samurai of that time. Samurai Street, once a thoroughfare for Satsuma Domain officials and samurai, remains a quiet street that evokes the atmosphere of the past. Traditional samurai residences line the street, allowing visitors to imagine the lives of those who once lived there. The Chiran Traditional Buildings Preservation District is a recommended spot for a relaxing stroll while experiencing history and tradition.