Shoko-shuseikan

Shoko-shuseikan is a museum in the southwestern city of Kagoshima showcasing the legacy of the powerful Shimadzu clan that once ruled this region.
The building is designated as an important cultural asset and is Japan’s oldest existing Western-style factory. The factory was built to process metals for shipbuilding and other purposes, and was part of the Shimadzu clan’s efforts to boost Japan’s industrialization.
Inside the renovated building, Shimadzu heirlooms are on display alongside other historically and culturally important items of the Satsuma domain, which is now Kagoshima Prefecture.
The museum holds various seminars and exhibitions on Satsuma’s unique role during Japan’s early modern history, and serves as a beacon of culture.
Shoko-shuseikan stands next to the Shimadzu garden and villa, where visitors can learn more about how Satsuma influenced Japanese history.