Kyoto’s Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane.
Similarly, Fukuoka’s Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine also honors Sugawara Michizane, who was exiled to Kyushu.
There are two main ways to get to Dazaifu Tenmangu from Hakata Station. If you’re interested, please refer to this article: Kyushu – From Hakata Station to Dazaifu
From the Nishitetsu-Dazaifu Station, you can see the approach to the shrine.
The approach is lined with numerous shops.
It’s about 300 meters from the station entrance to here.
There are quite a few stalls here.
Even after seeing the torii gate at the entrance, you still have to walk a bit to reach the Honden.
Suhou Poem Monument
Kirin
Museum
The Temizuya
There’s a stone turtle at the bottom of the Temizuya.
You must touch the Shingyu head here for good luck!
The Honden
Lots of shops selling Amulets nearby.
Generally, Tangerine and Sakura (Right side is Sakura, left side is Tangerine.) are planted next to the Honden.
Entrance to the Tobiume Hall
Lots of gourds
Ema
Designated areas to tie omikuji (fortune slips).
After exploring, it’s time to leave.
There are two paths to enter the Honden, so take the other path to exit.
There are even more stalls here.
This Starbucks here is quite unique, located right on the approach.
When I arrived, there were too many people taking photos, so I had to take pictures on the way back.
Additionally, there’s a shop here called “Ume-en.”
They sell a special item called うその餅 (which I would translate as: “Liar’s Mochi”).
Because my Japanese isn’t great, when I saw うそ, I thought of “lie.”
Later, I found out that this うそ refers to the Eurasian bullfinch (a type of bird living along the Japanese coast).
The connection is that this bird eats harmful insects, like a messenger of the gods.
The kanji for うそ is 鷽, which resembles the kanji for “learning” (学),
thus linking it to the god of learning, Sugawara Michizane.
Check the official website; the mochi looks like this.
I didn’t buy it this time, but I’ll try it next time….
(Image from official website)
That’s a brief introduction to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (Official website）
Address: 4 Chome-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka 818-0117
Transportation: 5-minute walk from Nishitetsu-Dazaifu Station exit.
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: From the day of the vernal equinox to the day before the autumnal equinox 06:00, other times 06:30
Closing Hours: April, May, September to November 19:00, other months 19:30
Map:
『Original Source：https://nicklee.tw/1273/』
