Izumi Shrine, kuil Shinto di Jepang
Izumi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Chūō-ku, nestled in the corner of Suizenji Garden, enshrining the spirits of 15 family members and notable leaders. The grounds include traditional wooden buildings, a stage for Noh theater performances, a stone hand-washing basin fed by mountain spring water, and a wooden torii gate rebuilt after earthquake damage.
The shrine was established in 1878 shortly after a major rebellion damaged Kumamoto, created to aid the city's recovery and honor the Hosokawa family's rule. It was destroyed during World War Two bombing raids but was reconstructed starting in 1970 according to its original design, completed in 1973.
The shrine honors the Hosokawa family, feudal lords known for supporting poetry, tea ceremony, and traditional theater arts. Visitors today experience how these cultural values shaped the design and peaceful character of the space.
Access is straightforward from Shin Suizenji Station or Shiritsu-taiikukan-mae tram stop, with roughly a 400-meter walk to reach the garden and shrine. Visitors should plan for a relaxed visit where traditional customs apply, such as washing hands at the basin before approaching the main sanctuary.
The shrine holds an unusual 300-year-old pine tree that began as a bonsai owned by Hosokawa Tadatoshi in the 1600s and grew into its present sculptural shape. This living connection to the family's past demonstrates how the grounds preserve both history and nature together.
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