Nanshu Shrine & Cemetery
南洲神社・南洲墓地
The resting place of Saigo Takamori and more than 2,000 Satsuma soldiers who died in the Satsuma Rebellion. The rows of gravestones face Sakurajima, and Nanshu Shrine and the Saigo Nanshu Memorial Hall stand nearby.
Nanshu Cemetery holds Saigo Takamori (known as Nanshu) and 2,023 Satsuma soldiers killed in the Satsuma Rebellion. Their 749 gravestones are arranged in orderly rows, with Saigo's grave at the center, surrounded by the graves of Kirino Toshiaki, Murata Shinpachi, and others, all facing Sakurajima across Kinko Bay. Nanshu Shrine next door enshrines Saigo. The adjacent Saigo Nanshu Memorial Hall displays materials on Saigo's life and the Satsuma Rebellion (admission about 200 yen, closed Mondays). The cemetery and shrine are free to visit. From Tenmonkan, it's about 15 minutes by city sightseeing bus. It can be combined with Shiroyama and Ishibashi Memorial Park.
Opening hours
Open all day; Kenshokan 09:00–17:00 (closed Mon)
Nearby sights
- Tsurumaru Castle Ruins & Reimeikan
- Ishibashi Memorial Park
- Kagoshima City Aquarium (io world)
- Statue of Saigo Takamori
- Shiroyama Observatory
- Terukuni Shrine
- Tenmonkan
- Sengan-en