A small Sōtō Zen temple on the wooded slopes east of central Kumamoto, founded in 1632 by the Hosokawa lords as a family memorial temple. The hondo is modest but the surrounding grounds — pine trees, stone lanterns, the Hosokawa family graves — are atmospheric and almost always deserted.
Easily combined with a visit to Tatsuda Natural Park, which adjoins the temple grounds. Together they make a quiet half day away from the castle crowds.