Sengan-en features distinctive stone lanterns and garden stones influenced by Chinese ideas of paradise.

The Crane Lantern is named for its pointed capstone, which resembles a crane spreading its wings. Nearby, the Turtle Stone appears as though it’s emerging from the waters of Kinko Bay.

In East Asian culture, cranes and turtles symbolize longevity and prosperity, adding layers of meaning to the garden’s design.

In 1857, Shimazu Nariakira conducted experiments here using coal gas to light the lanterns, an early step toward modern lighting in Japan.