Five Mausoleums of the Kurume Lords at Bairinji
The Arima Family Mausoleum (有馬家霊屋, Arimake Tamaya) is a group of five mausoleum buildings of the Arima lords of Kurume in the precinct of Bairinji, Kyomachi, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, built from 1630 to 1655 and designated an Important Cultural Property in 2018.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes Bairinji as the family temple of the Arima lords, and the five mausoleums standing side by side as a rare example of daimyo mausoleum architecture in Kyushu. They belong to the religious corporation Bairinji.
The Kurume tourism association says Bairinji was founded when the first lord, Toyouji, moved a family temple to Kurume and renamed it after the posthumous name of his father Noriyori, Bairin-in.
The Five Buildings
The Agency lists the five as follows. The Bairin-in mausoleum of Noriyori, founder of the house, dates from 1630: three bays square, with a hip-and-gable roof, entrance in the gable and tiles. The Shunrin-in mausoleum of the first lord Toyouji dates from 1643: three bays square with a pyramidal tiled roof.
The Shunrin-in memorial tablet hall (1643), the Chojuin memorial tablet hall of Toyouji's wife (1652) and the Keirin-in memorial tablet hall of the second lord Tadayori (1655) are all hip-and-gable buildings entered at the gable end, with pantiled roofs.
According to the Agency, the mausoleums of Noriyori and Toyouji stand at the front of the cemetery, and behind them, on a higher terrace, are the tablet halls of Toyouji, his wife and Tadayori.
Why It Matters
The Agency singles out a distinctive pairing: a lower mausoleum housing a five-tiered stone stupa and an upper tablet hall enshrining a splendid miniature palace, worshipped together as one.
Alongside this unusual layout and the contrast between upper and lower buildings, the group also shows features common to Edo-period daimyo cemeteries, such as the gradual simplification of mausoleum design.
The Agency values the Arima Family Mausoleum highly for understanding how mausoleum architecture developed in the regions of Japan.
Visiting the Arima Family Mausoleum
Bairinji is a Rinzai temple of the Myoshinji school, known as one of Kyushu's leading Zen training monasteries. No official information on viewing the mausoleums was found, so contact Bairinji (0942-32-2565) in advance.
The Kurume tourism association gives the address as 209 Kyomachi, Kurume, about 5 minutes on foot from JR Kurume Station. The adjoining outer garden is a popular plum-blossom spot.
Q&A
- When was the Arima Family Mausoleum designated?
- It was designated an Important Cultural Property on 25 December 2018.
- How many buildings make up the Arima Family Mausoleum?
- Five: the Bairin-in and Shunrin-in mausoleums and the Shunrin-in, Chojuin and Keirin-in memorial tablet halls.
- When was the Arima Family Mausoleum built?
- Between 1630 and 1655, one building after another.
- What is special about the Arima Family Mausoleum?
- A lower mausoleum with a stone stupa and an upper tablet hall with a miniature palace are worshipped together as a pair.
- Can I visit the Arima Family Mausoleum?
- Bairinji is a training monastery, so ask the temple in advance about viewing.
Basic Information
| Name | Arima Family Mausoleum (有馬家霊屋) |
|---|---|
| Location | Kyomachi, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Designated 2018/12/25 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 5 buildings |
| Dimensions | Bairin-in mausoleum: three by three bays, hip-and-gable, gable entry, tiled roof, and others |
| Owner | Bairinji (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Ask Bairinji about viewing |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Arima Family Mausoleum, Bairin-in (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/00005174
- Cultural Heritage Online: Arima Family Mausoleum (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/377717
- Kurume Tourism Association: Bairinji (Japanese)
- https://welcome-kurume.com/spots/detail/4ec3b2dd-9c8e-49e5-86bc-3075af7d95b4
- Fukuoka Prefecture: Bairinji Karamon (Japanese)
- https://www.fukuoka-bunkazai.jp/frmDetail.aspx?db=1&id=284
Last verified: 2026.09.28
Cultural Treasures in the Same Area
All are within walking distance in the same area, so we recommend visiting them together.
- Arima Family Mausoleum Shunrin-in Mausoleum 0.00 km
- Arima Family Mausoleum Shunrin-in Memorial Tablet Shrine 0.00 km
- Arima Family Mausoleum Choju-in Temple Mausoleum 0.00 km
- Arima Family Mausoleum Keirin-in Memorial Tablet Shrine 0.00 km
- Arima Family Mausoleum Bairin-in Mausoleum 0.00 km