The first National Treasure in Kumamoto, and the first shrine to become one in 47 years.
The roof is neither tile nor bark: it is thatch, thick, and from under the gate you can see its edge cut clean. Under the eaves the wood is lacquered black, with parts in red, and the combination looks like no other shrine you come across travelling up from Kyūshū. There are five buildings in a row, and you pass through them one after another.
Founded in 806, it was the guardian shrine of the Kuma area. The present buildings were built between 1610 and 1618. On 9 June 2008 five of them (the main hall, the corridor, the offering hall, the worship hall and the two-storey gate) were declared 国宝, that is, National Treasures, the highest grade: it was Kumamoto's first 国宝, and no shrine had been designated one for forty-seven years.
ℹ️ Entry to the grounds is free. ⚠️ OPENING HOURS TO BE CONFIRMED: 9:00–17:00 is what search summaries report, but it does not appear on any page that has been opened and should not be taken as reliable; the shrine's website (www.aoiaso.or.jp) does not resolve. Next to it is a museum, the 国宝記念館, with an admission charge and its own hours. From Hitoyoshi Station it is a few minutes on foot. ⚠️ On its status after the earthquake of 28/07/2026, see the doubts: I do not have an answer.
🚉 Hitoyoshi · 5 min walk
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