(Photo: Composing poems in front of the stream / © K．P．V．B)

Sengan-en (仙巌園), the beautiful garden which was a summer villa of the Shimazu family is holding a popular annual historical event.
At Shoko Syusei-kan (尚古集成館), a hina dolls exhibition is being held until April 23rd (Thu). A total 470 dolls and other materials were brought by Takehime, the daughter of the 5th shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, when she married Shimazu, the lord of Satsuma. These gorgeous dolls and luxurious and finely detailed items are exhibited.

[Events]
*** A TOUR WITH EXPLANATION AND LUNCH ***
(KISARAGI TOUR / 如月ツアー)
A tour with explanation of the historical facts about the hina dolls by staff.
Special lunch at the restaurant in the garden included.
Date: February 7 (Sat) / February 14 (Sat) / February 15 (Sun) / February 22 (Sun)
Time: 10:00 ~ 12:30
Place: Shoko Syusei-kan, Iso Kogei-kan, Sngan-en
Capacity: 20 people / each day * Booking required.
Fee: 3,000 yen (Entrance fee and lunch included)

*** MAKING SATSUMA-ITOBINA CLASS ***
(SATSUMA-ITOBINA KYOSHITSU / 薩摩糸びな教室)
Around 200 years ago, hina dolls in Kagoshima were called Itobina. They were simple and made of bamboo, stick and paper. It was so simple that it was difficult to tell which was a man or a woman, so they distinguished it by the Kimono pattern on the paper. The Itobina is one of Kagoshima’s traditional craft works. You can have a great opportunity to make Itobina!
Date: February 21 (Sat) / February 26 (Thu)
Time: 13:00～15:00
Place: Sengan-en
Capacity: 30 people / each day *Booking required.
Fee: 2,500 yen & the entrance fee

*** PAPER DOLLS FLOATED DOWNRIVER ***
(NAGASHI-BINA / 流しびな)
Sengan-en has a beautiful meandering stream.
In this season, this stream becomes the place to float away your own foulness and bad luck. Join this traditional event only for girls and ladies, and grab good luck!
Date: March 1 (Sun)
Time: 13:00 ~ 15:00
Place: Kyokusui-no Niwa in Sengan-sen
Fee: 2,000 yen + the entrance fee
*Booking required.

*** COMPOSING POEMS IN FRONT OF THE STREAM ***
(KYOKUSUI-no EN / 曲水の宴)
“Kyokusui-no En” is originally a Chinese traditional event. It was held among nobles from about AD 600 ~ 900 in spring. People sit beside a little stream in which a sake cup is floating. Before the sake cup floats through in front of the person, he / she has to compose a poem. This annual event had started in Japan before the Nara era (about AD 700).
Here in Iso garden, the 21st Shimazu lord made the kyokusui garden about 1736.
You can see this traditional graceful event in Iso garden. People dressed like characters in “The Tales of Genji” sit along a little stream and compose poems. You would feel like you have travelled in time to the Heian era.
Date: April 5 (Sun)
Time: 13:30 ~ 14:30
Fee: Free (Entrance ticket needed)
Check the URL below for details.