🗺️ Izumi Muroku Samurai Residence

The Samurai Residences in Kagoshima Prefecture cover an area of approximately 46 hectares, equivalent to the size of nine Tokyo Domes. Although the samurai houses seen today have been rebuilt later, the neatly arranged streets, stone walls, and lush green fences are just as they were four hundred years ago. During the Edo period, the Satsuma Domain built bases known as "Gai-jō" to govern various regions. The area where the residences and strongholds of the outer castle samurai were located is called "Roku." Among these, Izumi City (Kagoshima Prefecture), which had a significant defensive position against the hostile Higo (now Kumamoto Prefecture), constructed the first and largest outer castle in the domain. Today, 150 samurai houses remain as residences, with two open for public viewing. The "Takezoe Residence" was home to high-ranking samurai, while the "Zekisho Residence" features an escape passage that connects from the hearth to the outside, illustrating the function of the outer castle. Additionally, the "Izumi Roku Historical Museum," which is suitable for a walking spot, provides insights into the history and culture of the samurai residences. Moreover, on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays, there is a "Izumi Sightseeing Ox Cart" that takes a circular route around the samurai residences, lasting about 25 minutes over a distance of one kilometer, along with kimono wearing experiences. This allows visitors to feel as if they have traveled back in time to the Edo period.

The largest samurai residence group in the prefecture. You can stroll through the streets in a kimono and experience the feeling of traveling back in time to the Edo period. It has been designated as an important cultural property preservation area by the national government. In 2019, it was recognized as a Japan Heritage site.