Sep.13th, 2020
Kyushu National Museum
The Kyushu National Museum, located on the hills behind Dazaifu Tenmangū, is the 4th national museum in Japan, following Tokyo, Nara and Kyoto. It opened in 2005.
Since Kyūshū had been a key point between Japan and the continent, it collects items related to the cultural exchange between Kyūshū and Asia or Europe.
Admission fee is ￥700 for adults, ￥350 for College Students, and visitors below the age of 18 are free of charge. Opening hours are from 9:30am to 5pm. Closed on Mondays.
Dazaifu Amusement Park
Dazaifu Amusement Park is a small amusement park located next to Dazaifu Tenmangū. It opened in 1957, and has small amusement rides that can be enjoyed by small children.
Opening hours are from 10:30am to 4:30pm. Admission fees are ￥600 for adults and ￥400 for children. Additional fees are required for amusement rides.
Kamado shrine
Kamado shrine is a shrine dedicated to Tamayorihime-no-mikoto, located on Mount Hōman. It consists of Gegū at the foot of the mountain, and the Jōgū at the top. Since it was located in the 'Kimon', north-east which is considered to be the unlucky direction, of the Dazaifu government office, religious services were held by the government to provide protection. Also, envoys of missions to Sui China and later Tang China prayed here for success.
Dazaifu Government Office Ruins
Dazaifu is a regional government that was established in the end of the 7th century, by the Imperial Court, to govern the western part of Japan. It was the political center of Kyūshū, and responsible for diplomacy and defence against Asia. The modern city of Dazaifu is named after it. Where Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of Dazaifu Tenmangū, was relegated to was also Dazaifu.
The Dazaifu Government Office, the center of Dazaifu, was in a large scale with buildings in the same style as Heijō Palace, in Nara that was the capital at the time. It was also called "Tofurō". The ruins are designated as a national special historic site.
Next to the ruins, there is the Dazaifu Exhibition Hall, that introduces the history of Dazaifu city and displays articles from the ruins. Admission fees are ￥200 for adults, ￥100 for college and high school students. Opening hours are from 9am to 4:30pm, closed on Mondays.
Sakamoto Hachimangū
Sakamoto Hachimangū is a shrine located near the Dazaifu Government Office Ruins. It is said that it stands where the residence of Ōtomo no Tabito, the Governor-General of Dazaifu government office. One of the poems included in the Man'yōshū, about the "Baika-no-utage", a poetic gathering to view plum blossoms held at this residence, is the origin of the name of the era, "Reiwa". It is gathering many visitors since the name was announced in April 2019.
Enoki shrine
Enoki shrine is a shrine which is located where Sugawara no Michizane lived from when he was relegated to Dazaifu in 901, until he died in 903. It originates from the Jōmyō-in, built to moarn his spirits, by Fujiwara no Korenori in 1023. The enshrined enshrined deity is Jōmyō-ni, a women who kindly took care of Sugawara no Michizane.
During the Annual festival of Dazaifu Tenmangū held in September, the Sugawara no Michizane's mikoshi travels to Enoki shrine together with a graceful procession of 500 people, and travels back to Dazaifu Tenmangū the next day.
Iwaya Castle Ruins
Iwaya Castle was a mountain castle built half-way up Mount Shiōji. It was a strong point of the Ōtomo clan, one of the major clans who had power over northern Kyūshū, and is known to be the battleground for the Siege of Iwaya Castle in which Shimazu clan took the castle.
Earthen walls and moats remain today. It is also a observation point with a panoramic view of Fukuoka plains. The night view is said to be one of the three most beautiful night scapes of Fukuoka.
Mizuki Castle Ruins
Mizuki Castle is an ancient fortress that was built over the area that will be Dazaifu city, Ōnojō city and Kasuga city. It was built in 664 to defend the Dazaifu Government Office in case of an invasion from the continent. It is designated as a national special historic site.
It was built accross the narrowest point of the plains, blocking the way from Hakata bay to Dazaifu. It was 1.2km long consisting of 13m high earthen walls and moats 60m wide. It had 2 gates open for traffic. The fortress is divided into parts by roads and railways, but some of the earthwork and foundation stones still remain.
Mizuki-kan which introduces the Mizuki Castle, and a viewing point is located near what is left of the east gate. It is free of admission and open from 9am to 4:30pm, closed on Mondays.
Ōno Castle Ruins
Ōno Castle was ancient castle built on top of Mount Shiōji extending over Dazaifu city, Ōnojō city and Umi town in Kasuya district. It was built in 665 as defensive preparations in case of an invasion of the Tang-Silla alliance, after the defeat of the combined Japanese and Baekje forces at the Battle of Baekgang. It is designated as a national special historic site, and chose as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles.
It was a large castle surrounded by walls built along the ridge of the mountain, 8km long. Today, remains of stone walls, earthwork and stone foundations can be seen. The area is preserved as a park, Shiōji Kenmin-no-mori.
Tenpaisan shrine
Tenpaisan shrine is a shrine located at the top of Mount Tenpai, 258m high. It is a sessha of Dazaifu Tenmangū, dedicated for Sugawara no Michizane. From the shrine there is a fine view of Chikushi plains, Mount Kamado, and in the distance, Hakata bay.
The name of the shrine "Tenpai", meaning "worshipping the heavens", comes from the legend that Sugawara no Michizane climbed the mountain many times and worshipped the heavens to plead his innocence. The main route to the mountain top is maintained, so it is a popular mountain for beginners of mountain climbing.
Near the trailhead, there is the Gojisaku Tenmangū, which is a shrine that enshrines a wooden statue of Sugawara no Michizane, carved by himself, as a goshintai.
