Shozen-in Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Iwano, Mizukami Village, Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture. It belongs to the Chizan branch of Shingon Buddhism and is affectionately known by local people as the Cat Temple. Its unusual nickname comes from a tragic legend involving a black cat and the mother of a Buddhist priest.
One of the temple’s most distinctive features is the pair of guardian cats, known as komaneko, standing at the entrance in place of the more familiar guardian dogs. These cat statues give the temple a unique atmosphere and have become one of its best-known attractions.
Shozen-in is also one of the sacred sites on the Sagara Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage. Its historic buildings, Buddhist traditions, and unusual folklore make it an important cultural destination in the Kuma region.
Shozen-in was established in 1625, during the early Edo period, by Sagara Nagatsune, also known as Yorifusa, the 20th head of the Sagara family. The temple was founded as a place of Buddhist worship and is closely connected with the history of the Sagara clan, which ruled the Hitoyoshi and Kuma region for centuries.
The temple is particularly important for its Kannon Hall, which is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Built in the early Edo period, the hall preserves traditional architectural features and contains distinctive carvings of cats on the decorative panels of its Buddhist altar.
The story behind the name Cat Temple begins with Seiyo Hoin, the head priest of Fumonji Temple, which once stood in this area. In 1582, during the Sengoku period, Seiyo Hoin was accused of a crime he had not committed and was executed by the Sagara clan. The temple was also burned down.
After this tragedy, his mother, Kugatsu Zenjo, was overcome with grief and determined to avenge her son’s unjust death. She traveled to Ichifusa Shrine, where she undertook fasting and performed a curse against the Sagara family.
According to the legend, she bit her own finger until it bled and gave the blood to her beloved black cat, Tamadare. She then used the blood to imbue the cat with the power of her curse.
After carrying out this ritual, Kugatsu Zenjo is said to have thrown herself into the water together with the black cat, ending her life. Following her death, the Sagara family was troubled by a mysterious monster cat, or bakeneko, which was believed to be connected with the curse.
To calm the spirits of Seiyo Hoin and his mother, the Sagara family eventually rebuilt a temple at the site. This temple became the present-day Shozen-in.
The story of Shozen-in is deeply connected with the religious beliefs and political history of the Sagara domain. The temple was rebuilt not only as a place of Buddhist worship but also to appease the spirits of the priest and his mother, whose deaths had left a lasting impression on the region.
According to tradition, the Sagara domain encouraged people to visit the temple on March 16, the anniversary of Seiyo Hoin’s death, to pray for the repose of the spirits of the priest and his mother. The lord of the domain is also said to have visited the temple in person.
These memorial observances became an important local religious event. Over time, it was believed that the curse had finally been calmed. The tradition helped establish Shozen-in as a place deeply connected with local history, folklore, and religious faith.
One of the most recognizable features of Shozen-in is the pair of guardian cats at the temple entrance. Known as komaneko, these statues take the place of the traditional komainu guardian dogs found at many Japanese shrines and temples.
Their presence reflects the temple’s famous cat legend and gives visitors an immediate impression of its unusual history. The guardian cats have become a symbol of Shozen-in and are among the most memorable sights for people visiting the temple.
The cat imagery is also found inside the historic Kannon Hall, where carved cats decorate the panels of the Buddhist altar. These details connect the temple’s architecture with the legend that has been passed down through generations.
The Kannon Hall is the most important historic building at Shozen-in. It was constructed in 1625 and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The building is an outstanding example of early Edo-period Buddhist architecture.
The hall is a wooden structure with a hipped roof, traditionally known as yosemune-zukuri, and is covered with thatch. Its main structure measures three bays across the front and three bays in depth. It also features a one-bay projecting entrance porch, known as a kohai.
The building preserves the architectural characteristics of the period in which it was constructed. The Buddhist altar and its decorative panels are also particularly notable, as they feature carvings of cats that reflect the temple’s distinctive traditions.
The hall and its Buddhist sanctuary have been preserved in remarkably good condition. In 1990, the building was officially designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, recognizing its historical and architectural value.
Shozen-in has a traditional pilgrimage poem, known as a goeika, associated with the Sagara Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage. It reads:
“After passing through the fields and beyond the village, I come to the temple at Nakayama, praying for peace in the world to come.”
The poem expresses the hope that visiting the temple and offering prayers will bring spiritual peace and well-being in the afterlife. It reflects the religious significance of Shozen-in as a place of devotion and pilgrimage.
Shozen-in is a rare destination where an important historic Buddhist building and a distinctive local legend come together. The Important Cultural Property Kannon Hall preserves early Edo-period architecture, while the guardian cats and cat carvings recall the dramatic story of Tamadare and Kugatsu Zenjo.
The temple’s history is also a reminder of the influence of the Sagara family in the Kuma region. Its establishment and the memorial services held there reflect the relationship between Buddhist faith, local political history, and the traditional belief in appeasing restless spirits.
Shozen-in Temple is located at 3542 Iwano, Mizukami Village, Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture.
The nearest railway station is Yunomae Station on the Kumagawa Railway. From the station, the temple can be reached on foot in approximately 20 minutes. The route passes through the peaceful rural scenery of the Kuma region.
Visitors can see the guardian cats at the entrance, appreciate the historic Kannon Hall, and learn about the legend that gave the temple its familiar name. Those interested in Japanese Buddhist architecture, local folklore, and the history of the Sagara clan will find Shozen-in a particularly memorable place to visit.