🗺️ Chiran Samurai Residence Garden知覧武家屋敷庭園群

During the Edo period, the Satsuma Domain, which had a large number of samurai, implemented a special system known as the "Outer Castle System" to encourage the samurai within its territory to live in dispersed residences. This led to the creation of a group of samurai residences called "Roku." The Chiran samurai residences and their gardens were formed 270 years ago and are one of several "Roku" from that time, preserving the streetscape of the era and giving visitors a sense of time travel. The winding main street is lined with stone walls and green hedges, and the row of samurai residences has earned the nickname "Little Kyoto of Satsuma." Along the street, there are seven gardens recognized as national scenic spots that are open for public viewing, allowing visitors to explore them during their stroll. Six of these gardens are karesansui (dry landscape) gardens, with several set against the backdrop of Mount Kame, located in the northeastern region. The Morishige Garden on the east side of the street is the only pond-style garden and is also worth a visit. Chiran Port was once one of the bases for Satsuma Domain's trade with Ryukyu, leading to significant commercial exchanges, and traces of Ryukyu culture can be seen everywhere. The area also offers volunteer-guided tours, which need to be reserved a week in advance.

The street landscape preserved for 270 years is known as "Satsuma Small Kyoto." It has been selected as a National Important Traditional Building Preservation Area. Within the preservation area, there are seven gardens designated as national scenic spots. The local streets are listed in the "100 Selected Roads of Japan." In 2019, it was recognized as a Japanese Heritage site, "The Village of Satsuma Samurai's Former Life - The Samurai Residences 'Roku'."