This is a shrine for cat lovers.
Shrines where cats are enshrined are very rare.
Why a cat god?
You might think, but the reason goes back to the end of the 16th century.
When Yoshihiro Shimazu, the 17th head of the Shimazu family, went to war in Korea, he took seven cats with him to find out the time, and the two surviving cats were enshrined at this shrine.
They made use of the fact that cats' pupils have different shapes depending on the brightness of the light.
The ema (votive picture) depicts a shrine and a cat in soft colors.
Many people visit to pray for their pets' long life and health.
Ema can be purchased at the shop next to the shrine.
Goshuin (The red ink stamp) can be found in the souvenir shop at the entrance to Senganen.
The souvenir shop also has a range of cat goods and other items related to this anecdote, so check it out.
TEL | 099-247-1551 |
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Address | (In Sengan-en) 9700-1 Yoshino-cho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture |
Period | open all year round |
Open | 9:00am ~ 5:00pm |
Fee | First Sunday of March (Due to the Kagoshima Marathon) |
Fee | Senganen entrance fee *Tour of the palace is extra (¥600 for adults, ¥300 for children). *From 1 October 2024, only a set ticket for Sengan-en, Shoko Shuseikan and Goten will be available (adult ¥1,600 / child ¥800). |
Perking | 500 spaces (300 yen / day) |
Access | By car |
Web | https://www.senganen.jp/en/ |