Hanao Shrine (花尾神社)

Flow of the course

About this spot

This historic shrine is said to have been founded in 1218 by Tadahisa, the founder of the Shimazu clan. It enshrines Minamoto no Yoritomo (Tadahisa's father) and Tango-no-tsubone (his mother), and is also known as "Satsuma Nikko" due to the beauty of its shrine building surrounded by dense forest. The ceiling is decorated with numerous paintings of flowers and plants, and visitors can experience the Shimazu family's rich history while walking through the serene temple grounds.

Tips

About 10 minutes by car from Higashimata-cho. Admission to the shrine grounds is free. Surrounded by forest, it remains relatively cool even in summer.

Best time to visit

Takes about 1 hour. The afternoon hours with dappled sunlight are particularly beautiful.

Access & map

〒891-1101 Hanao-cho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture 4043