Former Kokutaiji Atago Pond (city-designated historic site)

Shin'ankokuji, the predecessor of Kokutai-ji, was built in 1594 by Ekei, the head priest of Aki'ankokuji in Ushida, the predecessor of Fudo-in. Ekei was a right-hand man to Mori Terumoto and was highly trusted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who awarded him a fief of 60,000 koku. However, when the Western Army was defeated in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Ekei was executed as one of the ringleaders and the Mori clan was transferred to Hagi. Fukushima Masanori, who came to Hiroshima in his place, invited his younger brother Fusho to Shin'ankokuji and changed the temple's name to Kokutai-ji. Asano, who succeeded Fukushima as lord of Hiroshima, invited a monk from his native Kishu to be the head priest and cherished the temple as his family temple. For example, the third feudal lord Tsunaakira bestowed the temple with 400 koku of land. Under the protection of this lord, Kokutaiji became a large temple, the center of 140 temples within the domain, and the temple grounds are said to have grown to an area of 1 cho 7 tan (approximately 130m square). Kokutaiji was located near the coastline at the time Hiroshima Castle was built. Atago Pond within the temple grounds was cleverly created by making use of rocks that appeared and disappeared depending on the tide. It is said that the name "Atago Pond" comes from the fact that Kokutaiji's guardian shrine, Atago Hall, was located near the pond, but today all that remains are carvings on the rock that are thought to be the remains of that shrine. The rock is also said to be an exposed bedrock that is connected underground to the reef of Shirakami Shrine. In 1978, Kokutai-ji Temple was relocated to Koi, Nishi-ku, but Atago Pond still retains its original appearance and is a valuable site that conveys the remains of the original structure from the time of the birth of Hiroshima Castle Town. Location: Part of Nakamachi 7-6, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City and part of Komachi 10-1, Naka-ku Date of designation: November 28, 1984