Shinto shrine
Kumamotojō Inari Jinja
熊本城稲荷神社（くまもとじょういなりじんじゃ）
Chūō Ward, Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture
A shrine inside Kumamoto Castle that enshrines Shirahige Daimyōjin, attended by two spirit foxes. Besides the Hatsuuma grand festival in February, many people visit to pray for safe childbirth and for a baby's first shrine visit (hatsumiyamairi).
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Prayers associated with this place
Enshrined deity: Shirahige Daimyōjin
History and things to know
According to the shrine's tradition, Katō Kiyomasa is said to have invited the kami here in Tenshō 16 (1588) when he entered Higo as its provincial lord. It is said that Kiyomasa brought with him the two foxes that serve as the kami's messengers and made the kami the guardian of Kumamoto Castle. In the Kumamoto earthquake of Heisei 28 the shrine suffered great damage, including the breaking of the great torii and the shrine office and the collapse of shrines in the grounds, and restoration work has been carried out.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Before you visit
Katō Jinja is also inside Kumamoto Castle, but it is a different shrine.
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 熊本城稲荷神社「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-22 確認）
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