Kikuchi Shrine

Kikuchi Shrine stands on the site of the Kikuchi main castle on Shiroyama hill in Kikuchi, Kumamoto, and honors the Kikuchi clan, who fought for the Southern Court in the Nanboku-cho period. The main enshrined figures are three generations: the 12th head Taketoki, the 13th Takeshige and the 15th Takemitsu, together with 26 other members of the clan. Its former rank was Beppyo Kanpei-sha, and today it is a Beppyo shrine of the Association of Shinto Shrines. It is counted among the Fifteen Shrines of the Kenmu Restoration.

The Kikuchi clan joined Emperor Go-Daigo's war to overthrow the shogunate and, in the Nanboku-cho period, fought as the main pillar of the Southern Court in Kyushu. Taketoki is said to have attacked the Kyushu Tandai and died in battle with his followers.

The shrine was founded between the end of the Edo period and the Meiji era. In 1868, on the proposal of Nagaoka Moriyoshi, the Grand Council of State ordered the Kumamoto domain to hold rites for the Kikuchi clan and Kato Kiyomasa, and the domain built Kikuchi Shrine on the castle ruins. The enshrinement ceremony took place in 1870, with Taketoki at first as the main deity and Takeshige and Takemitsu as accompanying deities. It became a village shrine in 1873 and a prefectural shrine in 1875, and in 1878, following the example of the Kusunoki Shrine (now Minatogawa Shrine), which enshrines Kusunoki Masashige and had been made a Beppyo Kanpei-sha, it too was given that rank. In 1923 Takeshige and Takemitsu were added as main deities, giving the shrine its present form.

Of the buildings, the main hall is in the sanken-sha nagare-zukuri style with a copper-plate roof, and the worship hall is a hip-and-gable (irimoya) building with the entrance on the long side and a three-bay front porch at the center. In the grounds stands a bronze equestrian statue of Taketoki. The Kikuchi Rekishikan history museum in the precincts displays relics of the clan, including the Kikuchi Senbon Yari spears. The shrine holds two Important Cultural Properties, the hanging scroll "Kikuchi Yoshikazu-zo" (silk, colored) and four scrolls (41 documents) of Kikuchi Shrine documents. Its auxiliary shrines include Shiroyama Shrine, Unjo-gu, which enshrines Prince Kaneyoshi and Prince Yoshinari, Inari Shrine and Ikume Shrine.

Kikuchi Shrine is also known as a cherry blossom spot, and in spring many people come to see the cherry trees along the approach and around the shrine. Cherry trees are also planted in Kikuchi Park, which spreads out to the south, so you can enjoy seasonal scenery and history in one visit.

By car, it is about 13-14 km from Ueki IC on the Kyushu Expressway, and the parking lot in the grounds is free with space for 50 cars. By public transport, take a Kumamoto Dentetsu bus toward Kikuchi Onsen from Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal and walk about 11 minutes from the last stop, Kikuchi Onsen Shimin Hiroba-mae. Kikuchi Gorge (about 12 km) is also in Kikuchi City, so after learning the history of the Kikuchi clan at the shrine you can go on to enjoy the natural scenery.