Kumamoto Suizenji Jojuen Garden: A Place for Cultural Exploration from Faith to History

#JulyBestPlaces2025 Suizenji Joju-en Garden in Kumamoto City is not only a renowned strolling Japanese garden, but also rich in history and culture. The park's Inari Shrine was established in 1809 by Saizu, the eighth lord of the Kumamoto Domain of the Higo Hosokawa clan, who brought back the gobengreisho from Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto. The shrine is considered a shrine that protects abundant crops, prosperous commerce, and domestic and road safety. Its rows of vermilion torii gates create a rich atmosphere of faith, attracting many worshippers and photography enthusiasts. Further along the park's paths, you'll find two bronze statues of Hosokawa Fujitaka and Hosokawa Tadayoshi, father and son, standing side by side on a raised platform. Fujitaka, also known as Yusai, was the first patriarch of the Hosokawa clan. He served under the Muromachi shogunate, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was a rare daimyo who possessed both civil and military prowess, and was a key inheritor of the traditional waka poetry tradition of "transmitting poetry from ancient times to the present," making significant contributions to cultural development. His son, Tadatoshi, was the founder of the Kumamoto Domain and the founder of Suizenji Jojuen Garden. He invited the renowned swordsman Miyamoto Musashi to the domain and encouraged him to complete masterpieces such as the "Gorinsho," highlighting Kumamoto's status as a center of martial arts and culture. The park also houses the "Nagaoka Gozen" bronze statue, originally dedicated to Nagaoka Gozen (もりはる), the second son of the 14th domain lord, Moriharu, who died in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904. Gozen was the first member of the nobility to die in the war. His bronze statue, completed in 1906 by renowned sculptor Koun Takamura, disappeared during World War II due to metal requisitioning. Today, only photographs reveal its former glory. These three cultural facilities not only symbolize Kumamoto's historical heritage but also allow visitors to experience the sights while embracing the centuries-old beliefs and spirit of the Hosokawa family. 📍Address: 8-1 Suizenji Park, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture 🚃Access: Approximately a 3-minute walk from Suizenji Park Station on the Kumamoto City Tram 🕰️Opening Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Last admission: 4:30 PM) 💰Admission: Adults 400 yen, Children 200 yen #SuizenjiJojuen #Hosokawa House #Kumamoto Shrine #Karasa-no-Shikikan #Kumamoto Travel #Historic Spots #HigoHosokawa House #Kumamoto Culture #Inari Shrine