Arima-ke Tamaya (Arima Family Mausoleums) are situated northwest of Kurume JR station on a small hill on the left bank of the Chikugo river, on the grounds of Konanzan Bairin-ji temple. The remaining Arima family graves can be found at the top and bottom of the hill to the back of the grounds. There are two mausoleums housing cenotaphs shaped as gorinto (five-ringed stupa) at the top, and three mausoleums with ihai mortuary tablets inside at the bottom.

At the two gorinto mausoleums at Bairin-in Tamaya, there is a shelter with a granite ashlar flagstone foundation and an interesting roof. The roof is designed in an irimoya style (an east Asian hip-and-gable roof design) and uses honkawarabuki (a traditional way of tiling that combines round and flat tiles). Inside the mausoleums, you can find stupas enshrining the feudal family ancestor, Noriyori (under his Buddhist name, Bairin-in) and his wife and daughters. The inscription on the stone lantern at the front of the mausoleum tells us that it was first constructed in 1630.

The traditional Japanese-style Butsudo Buddhist shrines here reflect the architectural style characteristic of the early 17th century.

The Five Mausoleum’s of the Arima Family, National Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings) designated by the government on Dec 25 2018