Kashīgū~Places to see nearby

Furō-sui

Furō-sui is a miraculous spring water that is said that was used by Takeuchi-no-Sukune-no-mikoto, one of the five great vassals serving Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū. The name "Furō-sui" means "Water of eternal youth", and it is said that Takeuchi-no-Sukune-no-mikoto lived for 300 years using the water for cooking and sake brewing.

The fountain was once abandoned, but it was repaired as a well in 759, and began to be called "Furō-sui". The water of this well is believed to have miraculous effects to drive of epidemics and prolongs life, and was presented to the Imperial Court every year, together with the leaves of the Aya-sugi in Kashīgū.

There are some cups and funnels inside the hut, those can be used to pour water into containers, if you have any. However, since the yielding of the water has been decreasing, the amount of water that can be taken from the well has been limited to about 4 liters per group. Also, it is recommended to boil the water before drinking it.

The Furō-sui was chosen as one of the Selected 100 Exquisite and Well-Conserved Waters, by the Ministry of the Environment in 1985.

It is open from 10am to 3pm.

Tongū

A Tongū is where a mikoshi travels to in a festival. The Tongū of Kashīgū is located 1km away from the main shrine, at the entrance of the Chokushidō, the main approach to the shrine.

In the spring festival, once every two years, 3 mikoshis travels to the Tongū along with a procession of people in traditional costumes. The mikoshi s stay at the Tongū for a night, and returns to the main shrine the next day.

Mishima shrine

Mishima shrine is an branch shrine of Kashīgū, located about 150m off the shore of Kashīhama, about 1.7km from Kashīgū. It is dedicated for the sea god, Wadatsumi-no-kami.

In the Nihon shoki, it tells that Empress Jingū had a trial here before leaving on the conquest to Silla. She washed her hair with the sea water and said that, if she has a miraculous virtue, her hair would be parted into two. Her hair naturally divided in two, so Empress Jingū determined to take the field, and dressed her hair into a Mizura, a type of men's hairstyle.

Mishima shrine is off shore and usually it cannot be landed, but in the annual festival, Shinto priests go accross the tidal flats and have ritual ceremonies. Most of the coastline around the shrine is open to public as parks, such as Kashīhama-kita park, so it can easily be seen the shore.

Najima Castle Ruins

Najima castle was a castle built by Kobayakawa Takakage who became the feudal lord of the area after Toyotomi Hideyoshi settled Kyūshū. It was built on a hill surrounded by water on three sides, so it can be a base for naval forces. Kuroda Nagamasa, who became the feudal lord of the area after the Battle of Sekigahara also used this castle, but since there was not enough space around the castle to build a castle town, he built the Fukuoka castle and closed Najima Castle.

When Fukuoka castle was built, the buildings and stone walls of were removed from Najima castle to use as building materials. And also, the area was developed as a residential area, making it hard to tell where the castle was. However, a part of the castle is developed as Najima-jōshi park, and Najima shrine, that was worshipped as a guardian by the lords of castle, still exists. Also, a gate that used to be in Najima castle can be seen at Maizuru park, where Fukuoka castle used to be, and is named "Najima-mon".

The opening hours of Najima-jōshi park is 9am to 7pm in April to September, 9am to 5pm in October to March.

Kashī-kaen

Kashī-kaen is an amusement park located in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city. It opened in 1956, and reopened after renovation in 2010 as "Kashī-kaen Sylvanian Garden".

It has small amusement rides that can be enjoyed by small children, and "Sylvanian Garden", a theme park of the charactors of Sylvanian Families. There are some more facilities such as a flower garden, a pool, and park golf course.

Opening hours are 11am to 5pm on weekdays, and 10am to 8pm on weekends and holidays. Admission fees are ￥1100 for adults and ￥700 for children. Additional fees are required for amusement rides.

Tachibanayama Castle Ruins

Tachibanayama Castle was a castle built on the top of Mount Tachibana, 367m high, overlooking the port city of Hakata. It was built by the Tachibana clan, that descended from Ōtomo clan. It is said it was a massive castle fortifying the whole mountain, and at the end of the Sengoku period, Tachibana Munetora, the lord of castle, held the castle up from an attack from the Shimazu army of 40 thousand. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi suppressed Kyūshū, the Tachibana clan was relocated to Yanagawa castle, and Kobayakawa Takakage became the fudal lord of the area. However, Kobayakawa Takakage built Najima castle as his castle , making Tachibana castle a branch castle. And after Kuroda Nagamasa, the succeeding fudal lord after the Kobayakawa clan, built Fukuoka castle, Tachibana castle was abandoned.

When Fukuoka castle was built, the stone walls of Tachibana castle were removed to use for building material, there is not much left of the castle. But stilll some of the stone walls remain.

Mount Tachibana is a relatively gentle mountain, making it a popular hiking course. From the mountain top, a nice view of Hakata bay, the Genkai sea and the city of Fukuoka can be seen. Also, the primeval forest of camphors is designated a Special Natural Monument, and huge camphor trees over 300 years old can be seen.

Umi Hachimangū

Umi Hachimangū is a shrine located in Umi town, dedicated for Emperor Oujin, Empress Jingū, Tamayorihime-no-mikoto, Sumiyoshi-ōmikami and Izanagi-no-mikoto.

After Empress Jingū returned from the conquest to Silla, she gave birth to Emperor Ōjin where the shrine would later be established. The shrine was built here in the third year of Emperor Hidatsu's reign to enshrine Emperor Ōjin. The shrine is especially worshipped as a god of safe childbirth.

Uminonakamichi Seaside Park

Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is a National Government Park located in Uminonakamichi, a shoal between the island of Shikanoshima and the mainland of Kyūshū. It is about 6km wide and covers an area of about 260ha, having facilities such as a flower gardens where flowers of the season could be enjoyed, an amusment park, a water park, camp sites.

Opening hours are 9:30am to 5:30pm in March to October, 9:30am to 5pm in November to February. Entry fees are ￥450 for adults and free for junior high school students and below.

Marine World Uminonakamichi is an aquarium located in Uminonakamichi Seaside Park. Focusing on the aquatic life of Kyūshū, it contains more than 300 species of fish, and marine animals such as dolphins and sea lions.

Opening hours are 9:30am to 5:30pm in March to November, and 10am to 5pm in December to February. Entry fees are ￥2350 for adults and high school students, ￥1100 for junior highschool and elementary school students, and ￥600 for small children. It is separate from Uminonakamichi Seaside Park.

Shikaumi shrine

Shikaumi shrine is a shrine located on the island of Shikanoshima at the mouth Hakata bay. It is dedicated to the sea gods, the three Wadatsumi gods, Nakatsuwatatsumi-no-kami, Sokotsuwatatsumi-no-kami and Uwatsuwatatsumi-no-kami, and is the head shrine of all Wadatsumi shrines around Japan.

Since the three Wadatsumi gods emerged when Izanagi-no-mikoto washed off the impurity of Yomi, Shikaumi shrine has also been worshipped as a god of purification.