Heitate-jinja

Heitate-jinja is a shrine on a hillside in Yamato, Kumamoto Prefecture, reached by a long stone stairway. Forest and tall trees surround the wooden buildings, which spread across different levels of the slope.

The founding year lies in shadow, and only later records from the Edo period mention the shrine as a local place of prayer. Over the centuries it remained a gathering point for surrounding villages and was renewed after war damage.

The name connects to local customs of prayer and gratitude that draw people here to ask for protection and good harvests. Many come during festival days, when families gather at the main hall to pause and voice wishes for the coming year.

The drive from Kumamoto city takes around an hour and a half by car, and on site a stone stairway climbs uphill to the main hall. Sturdy footwear helps, as the steps can be uneven and the path through the forest sometimes turns slippery.

A very old cypress tree stands on the grounds and is estimated to be around fifteen thousand years old. This tree ranks among the oldest living organisms in the region and draws visitors who marvel at its size and deep roots.