Reimeikan
4
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Reimeikan and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,241 within 5 kms
Attractions
244 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
116 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
64
Average
21
Poor
2
Terrible
1
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Patrick S
160 contributions
Jan 2015 • Solo
The Reimeikan museum is built, as I understand it, on the former site of the palace of the lord of the Satsuma domain (later an Imperial outpost and central site of the Satsuma rebellion/Seinan War).
The museum has exhibits on the local history going as far back as the Palaeolithic era up to the 20th century. It is quite a big and very comprehensive museum and there's a lot to see and learn.
Unfortunately, quite a lot of descriptions are not given in English, though I think it's easy enough to follow what you're looking at with just the English information that is given.
If you're interested in the history of southern Japan, it's a must-see, and those who speak Japanese could easily spend half a day or more there, which I didn't have time for on my visit.
The museum has exhibits on the local history going as far back as the Palaeolithic era up to the 20th century. It is quite a big and very comprehensive museum and there's a lot to see and learn.
Unfortunately, quite a lot of descriptions are not given in English, though I think it's easy enough to follow what you're looking at with just the English information that is given.
If you're interested in the history of southern Japan, it's a must-see, and those who speak Japanese could easily spend half a day or more there, which I didn't have time for on my visit.
Written 10 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ValStobbs
Derby, UK32 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
Was a little difficult to find as we walked downhill from the observatory and we probably entered from the back. Once inside it was not obvious it was a museum as it is quite a large building and maybe used for other purposes as well. Once we asked and found the right section of the building the museum was amazing. Several floors and well worth seeing. Most exhibits had some English explanations.
Written 22 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David C
Tokushima, Japan14 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
Visited this museum after it had been recommended by someone in the community center nearby, which I passed after coming from the ferry terminal on foot. For the price, building design, display layout and quality of exhibits, I was glad I came. The different periods - from the ice age to Jomon, Yayoi and Meiji - are summarized in English which was helpful and I feel fortunate for this since I understand it was done this year. Still, I agree with another reviewer that the translated parts did not include everything which left me wishing at times for more detail. However, I was impressed with the design of the various exhibits and the quality of artifacts presented. Last, I received very thoughtful help from the lovely staff on the first floor who assisted me in English, in particular one considerate woman who helped give me directions to the train station - finding me a second time to personally give me an easy to understand map. It made my day.
Written 2 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pizza rocks
13 contributions
Dec 2017
310 JPY per adult. Only some descriptions are available in Japanese, Korean and English. You would spend around an hour. A lot of what Japan did to the countries they invaded are missing though, it was good to see around.
Written 26 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PeterCosby_Leicester
Leicester, UK243 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
We visited here after we had visited the Meiji restoration museum the previous day. This museum covers a more expansive period of history from Neolithic through to 20 th century. There was large amounts to see however the amount of English interpretation / access to audio guide limited our enjoyment. There were a significant amount of exhibits I would have loved to understand more about but the lack of explanation reduced the experience. I guess there are not too many tourists visiting this museum! Worth a visit none the less and any serious history buff would enjoy the trip.
Written 8 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tomizuta1953
Funabashi, Japan1,357 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
We drove down to the bottom of the Shiroyama (Castle hill) from the observatory on the top to visit Reimeikan Museum. This is a history museum opened in 1983 where the main castle (where the Shimazu feudal lord resided in the Edo era) of Kagoshima (Tsurumaru) Castle stood till it was abandoned and destroyed by fire in 1874. Reimeikan has an extensive display of facts and objects from the pre-historic era to modern times. Amongst other facts, I learned the long history of the Shimazu Family, Tsurumaru Castle was unique in that it did not have a grand castle keep which all other main castles have, that the proportion of samurais of the population was 25%, five times higher than the average (many samurais were spread in the countryside protecting the area and were called to military duty for the Shimazu feudal lord when needed, and that the remaining 75% of the population had to support them. The display of Tenmonkan (Kagoshima’s entertainment area) as it looked in the first half of the 19th century was also interesting. There is a room displaying facts about the Seventh High School which was on the castle grounds before Reimeikan as well. English explanation is provided throughout. It was well worth the admission fee of 310 yen. Parking at the back of the museum is free if you get a stamp at the admission office of the museum.
Written 7 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joyce
508 contributions
Mar 2017 • Family
When my family arrived at the museum at around 4.20pm, we nearly had the museum to ourselves. The staff there were very pleasant and polite (as seems to be the norm everywhere you go in lovely Japan). Because my family had purchased all day transport passes, this meant we were eligible for a discount on the entrance fee into the museum. We were given English language booklets to supplement our walk through the museum. You will find that Korean, Chinese and English translations for each major museum section has been added, but details about each individual artefact are still only in Japanese.
While the museum may not be as modern as museums you may find elsewhere, everything is kept immaculately and it's large and spacious. This museum is built on the foundation that used to make up the Kagoshima Castle, but all that remains is the outerwall and moat remains. When I went today part of the museum's exterior is under construction and restoration, but the museum is still open to visitors. If you're coming to the museum down from the Shiroyama observatory deck, it is easy to miss the side entrance to get into the museum, so keep your eyes peeled for the ramp leading towards the museum grounds!
There is a little cafe inside the museum where you can enjoy a selection of food off a menu, but note that this cafe closes at 5.30pm.
While the museum may not be as modern as museums you may find elsewhere, everything is kept immaculately and it's large and spacious. This museum is built on the foundation that used to make up the Kagoshima Castle, but all that remains is the outerwall and moat remains. When I went today part of the museum's exterior is under construction and restoration, but the museum is still open to visitors. If you're coming to the museum down from the Shiroyama observatory deck, it is easy to miss the side entrance to get into the museum, so keep your eyes peeled for the ramp leading towards the museum grounds!
There is a little cafe inside the museum where you can enjoy a selection of food off a menu, but note that this cafe closes at 5.30pm.
Written 15 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nurikabe_12
New York City, NY881 contributions
Jan 2017 • Solo
While the museum near Kagoshima Chuo Station focuses on the individuals who ushered in the the Meiji period, this one showcases the history of the local area and its culture. Plenty of dioramas and some afterthought was made to put English and Korean annotations on all major entries. Fine details are still only in Japanese though.
It's located in the middle of the grounds of Kagoshima Castle complex (note: no central tower or keep) so it's easy to miss if you pass by on the street. The current access entrance is past the City library (as of writing 7 date of visit).
It's located in the middle of the grounds of Kagoshima Castle complex (note: no central tower or keep) so it's easy to miss if you pass by on the street. The current access entrance is past the City library (as of writing 7 date of visit).
Written 26 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
さとぽん555
Kyoto, Japan247 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
You can listen to the guided tour using the free app, it's quite interesting and traces the history of Kagoshima from the Stone Age. I wish they'd expanded the history of the Shimazu clan a bit more, about twice as much.
Written 29 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing