九州各地域の隠れた資源を磨き上げ、国内外へ発信

Fudo-iwa is a group of gigantic rocks sitting halfway up a 389-meter high hill in Kamou, Mitama area of Yamaga City. The group consists of tree rocks, the front-fudo, the middle-fudo, and the rear-fudo. These unusually shaped large rocks are listed as one of the 25 best scenic spots of Kumamoto. They are so called because in the Heian period (794 to circa 1185) yamabushi or mountain priests practicing asceticism in the mountain had Fudo-myo-o (Acala, or the immovable wisdom king and the god of fire in Buddhism) enshrined as the main object of worship. The front-fudo, the largest of the three rocks, is accessible by car. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view from a lookout nearby and pay a call on the Fudo Shrine, which was rebuilt in 2017. Hike lovers can climb along the Kyushu Natural Trail to the tops of the other two rocks. In spring, 200 cherry trees around the rocks bloom, making the spot popular among local flower lovers.