Kaizoji

This is a Soto Zen temple said to have been founded by the Chinese monk Jigen Zenji during the Oei era (1394-1434). During the Mori era, it was the family temple of the Kodama family, vassals of the Mori clan and lords of Kusatsu Castle. It was also used as a camp for the Mori side during the Battle of Itsukushima in 1555. When Lord Mori Terumoto traveled to Kyoto in July 1588, he stayed at the temple before setting sail from Kusatsu. During the Asano era, it was the head retainer of the main Asano clan, and continued to serve as the family temple of the Tojo Asano clan until the early Meiji period. According to the Itsukaichi Town Chronicle, in June 1864, the Hamaguri Gomon Incident occurred, and negotiations between the shogunate and Choshu were held at this temple, with the mediation of the Hiroshima clan. The main hall was partially destroyed by a mudslide in 1926, and large rosary beads engraved with the names of donors who donated funds for the restoration are made to express gratitude, and the beads are recited on August 10th at the "Kannon Festival". The graveyard includes the five-ring grave of the Tojo Asano family, the graves of Hojo Ujinao and Yamanaka Shikanosuke's daughter Morie. In addition, on the Kuriyama side, there is a rock garden that was created during the Genroku period. The main hall and mountain gate, which were rebuilt in 1840, were damaged by the blast of the atomic bomb on August 6th, 1945, and the eaves were lifted up, causing the main hall to tilt. After that, there were many injured people who had evacuated, and the inside of the hall was in a state where there was no place to step. The main hall and mountain gate, which were severely damaged by Typhoon No. 19 in 1991, were restored with the support of parishioners and local residents, with the support of the Hiroshima City Atomic Bombed Buildings Preservation and Inheritance Project.