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 Shusei-kan (尚古集成館), a hina dolls exhibition is being held until April 26th (Thu). Dolls and other materials were brought by Takehime, the daughter of the 5th shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, when she married Tsugutoyo Shimazu, the 22nd lord of Satsuma. These gorgeous dolls, as well as other luxurious and finely detailed items are exhibited.
During the period, other attractive events are also held.

【Events】

***** THE LEGACY OF SHIMAZU FAMILY; AN EXHIBITION OF HINA DOLLS AND HINA MATERIALS *****
(SHIMAZUKE DENRAI NINNGYO-TO HINA-DOGU-TEN / 島津家伝来　人形とひな道具展)

Shimazu family’s regacy, the “yusoku-bina (有職雛),” dolls clad in the exact replica of the elegant court costumes of the Heian period and luxurious and finely detailed items (total 407 items) are exhibited at Shokoshusei-kan.
21 gosho ningyo (Imperial palace dolls / 御所人形) and mitsuore ningyo (movable sculpted dolls / 三折人形) are also exhibited.

Date: February 3rd (Sat) ~ April 26th (Thu)
Time: 8:30 ~ 17:30
Place: Shoko Syusei-kan Bekkan
Entrance fee: Adults 1,000 yen / Elementary & J.H.S.Students 500 yen

***** MAKING SATSUMA-ITOBINA CLASS *****
(SATSUMA-ITOBINA KYOSHITSU / 薩摩糸びな教室)

Satsuma itobina is Kagoshima’s traditional craft hina doll made from early the Edo period. They were simple and made of bamboo sticks and paper. It is 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. This is a great opportunity to make Itobina!

Date: February 25th (Sun)
Time: 13:00～15:00
Place: Sengan-en
Capacity: 40 people / each day *Booking required.
Fee: 2,000 yen & the entrance fee

***** A TOUR WITH EXPLANATION OF TRADITIONAL HINA DOLL ITEMS AND LUNCH *****
(HINAMATSURI MANKITSU! HARU-NO LUNCH TOUR / ひなまつり満喫！春のランチツアー)

A tour with explanation by Sengan-en staff of the historical facts about the hina dolls and the items.
Special lunch at the restaurant in the garden included. You can see the gorgeous garden and Sakurajima from the restaurant.

Date: March 2nd (Fri) & March 11th (Sun)
Time: 10:00 ~ 12:30
Place: Shoko Shusei-kan and Sengan-en
Capacity: 20 people
*Aplication is closed because the number of applicants reaches the quota.
Fee: 3,000 yen & the entrance fee (Lunch included)

***** 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 with tiny hina dolls sitting in a bamboo boat.
People used to transfer their impurities to hitokata (human shaped paper dolls) by rubbing them against the affected area, whereby getting rid of their impurity. And this custom is the origin of nagashi bina.
Join this traditional event only for girls and ladies, and grab some good luck!

Date: March 3rd (Sat)
Time: 13:30 ~ 15:00
Place: Kyokusui-no Niwa in Sengan-sen
Capacity: 60 people (ladies only)
*Aplication is closed because the number of applicants reaches the quota.
Fee: 2,200 yen + the entrance fee

***** 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 in Spring from about AD 600 ~ 900.
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 needs 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 in about 1736.
You can see this traditional graceful event in Iso garden. People dress in Samurai families formal costume and compose poems. You will feel like you have traveled in time to old Japan.

Date: April 8 (Sun)
Place: Kyokusui-no Niwa in Sengan-sen