- Culture
- Kagoshima
Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residences
Experience an extraordinary world in the traditional Samurai Residences in Izumi
The Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residences in Izumi, Kagoshima, has many samurai residences preserved to give visitors a feel of the daily lives of samurai warriors from long ago. These residences and their surroundings constitute Izumi-fumoto’s unique historic townscapes.
Headquartered in Kagoshima Castle, Edo-period Satsuma Domain divided its territories into administrative sections called tojo. Izumi was one of the largest tojos (outer towns), situated near the border with Higo Domain. Izumi-Fumoto is designated as one of Japan’s Important Preservation District of Historic Buildings. In old times, the area used to be a big grid-structured town composed of four streets running east-to-west and five from south-to-north.
On weekends and national holidays, ox-drawn carriage rides are available for tourists. They can enjoy the scenery of ancient samurai residences as they go around the quarter leisurely in one of the few remaining ox-drawn carts in Japan.
Location
| Name | Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residences |
|---|---|
| Web Sites | (In Japanese) http://www.kanko-izumi.com/residence.html |
| Address | Fumoto-cho, Izumi-shi, Kagoshima |
| Access | Approx. 25 min. on foot from JR Izumi Station Approx. 5 min. by car from JR Izumi Station (Free car parking lot available) Approx. 10 min. by bicycle from JR Izumi Station (Free rental bikes are available at the Tourist Information Center in JR Izumi Station) |
| Business Hours | 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (every day) |
| Inquiries | TEL:0996-79-3030（Izumi City Tourism Association） |
| Event Period | Open every day |
| Admission | Admission fees required for Samurai Residence and Izumi-fumoto History Museum: 500 yen for high school students and up. 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Note: Fees include admissions to the Izumi-Fumoto History Museum, Takezoe Residence, and Zeisho Residence. |