nama zen in ( neko tera )

Shozennin is a temple of the Shingon sect Chisan-ha, located in Iwano, Mizukami Village, Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture. Widely known by the nickname Neko-dera (Cat Temple), it is associated with legends of a beloved cat that sacrificed itself to protect its owner. The Kannon-do hall, built in 1625, is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. A pair of guardian cat statues (komainu-style) stands at the temple gate. The main hall, Kannon-do, and kitchen quarters were recognized as Japanese Heritage constituent cultural properties in 2015.