The 19 students traveled to Britain at a time when leaving Japan was punishable by death.
Thomas Blake Glover, a Scottish merchant, helped facilitate the students' secret departure from Japan.
Among the students was Mori Arinori, who later became Japan's first Minister of Education.
The students faced significant financial hardship while in London, often relying on the support of local acquaintances.
Several of the students were barely teenagers at the time of their departure.
The museum grounds feature a statue commemorating the 19 students who embarked on the voyage.
The Satsuma Students Museum honors the 19 young samurai from the Satsuma Domain who defied the Tokugawa shogunate's ban on foreign travel to study in Britain in 1865. Located in the birthplace of these students, the museum documents their journey from Hashima to London and their subsequent contributions to Japan's modernization. Visitors can explore artifacts and documents detailing how the 'Satsuma Students' influenced the Meiji Restoration and the nation's industrial development. The facility stands on the former site of the students' home region, preserving the historical context of their departure. Exhibits feature visual displays and narratives concerning their experiences at University College London and their return as government officials and educational reformers. The museum serves as an educational center for understanding the cross-cultural exchange between the UK and Japan during the 19th century.
The statue of the Satsuma Students located on the museum grounds.
Combine your museum visit with a walk around the surrounding Hashima coastline for historical perspective.
Check the museum's official website for temporary exhibitions related to local Kagoshima history.
Allow time to read the detailed biographical panels for each of the 19 students to fully appreciate the narrative.
Do not expect an extensive English-language guide; consider using a translation app for the smaller historical plaques.
Closed on Mondays or the following day if Monday is a national holiday; also closed during the New Year period.
