Shikaumi shrine~Places to see nearby

Kin'in park

Kin'in park is a park located in the southwest part of Shikanoshima, and is where the gold seal, "kin'in", was found in 1784. The gold seal was rediscovered during farm working, and was kept by the Kuroda clan, the head Fukuoka Domain, until it was donated to the city of Fukuoka in 1978. It was a part of the collection of Fukuoka Art museum from 1978 to 1990, and is now displayed at Fukuoka City Museum.

The King of Na gold seal, commonly known as "kin'in", is believed to be the gold seal that Emperor Guangwu, of Chinese Han dynasty, conferred bestowed on a diplomatic official visiting from the Na state of Japan. No other artifacts of this period, besides this gold seal, have been found at Shikanoshima, making the reason why the gold seal was found at this island a mystery. There are various theories about the exact location of the rediscovery.

There is a memorial and a replica of the gold seal displayed at the observation plaza, at the top of the park.

From the Kin'in park has a beautiful view of the island of Nokonoshima and the busy seaway of Hakata bay can be viewed. Also, it is a good place for seeing the sunset.

Kaen-zuka

Kaen-zuka is a place where Buddhist monks of Kōyasan prayed for the surrender of the Yuan dynasty of China, at the behest of retired emperor Kameyama, during the Mongol invasion in 1281. Since after the Mongolian army retreated, the monks left behind the kaen, the flaming halo put behind a statue of Fudo-Myō'ō, the place became to be called Kaen-zuka.

A small temple and some small shrines remain. It is located in the forest between Shikaumi shrine and Shiomi park.

Mōko-zuka

Mōko-zuka is a mound with a memorial tower built for memorial service for the soldiers of the Mongolian army, who died in the Mongol invasions in 1274 and 1281. Stone memorials such as one with an inscription written by Zhang Zuolin are placed around the tower.

In the first invasion in 1274, a Mongolian ship ran aground on the coast of Shikanoshima and the captured soldiers were executed. In the second invasion in 1281, Mongolian troops landed on Shikanoshima, making it a battle ground.

The Mōko-zuka used to be on the hill just west of the current location, but since it was destroyed in the 2005 Fukuoka earthquake, it was rebuilt in the current location. A statue of Buddhist priest Nichiren and Kubikire-kutsu have been built in the original location.

Shiomi park viewing platform

Shiomi park is a park located at the highest point in Shikanoshima, about 170m above sea level. There is an observation platform about 10m high, with a fine view of Uminonakamichi that connects Shikanoshima and mainland, Hakata bay and the city of Fukuoka in the distance.

Futami-iwa

Futami-iwa are two triangular-shaped rocks about 3.4m high located in the eastern coast of Shikanoshima.

One of the rocks has a hole, about 1m wide, formed by the action of waves, and is called "Megane-iwa (Megane, meaning eye glasses)".

Shikaumi shrine Nakatsugū

Nakatsugū, is also called "Katsumagū", and is a sessha of Shikaumi shrine. It is located on a hill at the coast of Katsuma in the northern part of Shikanoshima, and is dedicated for Nakatsuwatatsumi-no-kami.

In front of the shrine building of Nakatsugū, there is the Nakatsugū kofun, an ancient tomb that was found in 1994. It has been planed down when the shrine had been built, but it was a circular-shaped tomb, about 7m in diameter and 1.5 high. It is assumed to be a grave for a marine clan those were based in Katsuma. The tomb was reburied after examination, but a stone burial room and some burial offerings were been found.

Shikaumi shrine Uwatsugū remains

Uwatsugū is where Shikaumi shrine originally was. Shikaumi shrine used to consist of 3 shrines the Uwatsugū, the Nakatsugū and the Okitsugū, located in Katsuma at the northern part of Shikanoshima. Between the 2nd and 4th century, the Azumi clan moved the Uwatsugū to the southern part, that is closer to mainland, and it became the Shikaumi shrine that exists now.

The remains are in the woods, close to the Nakatsugū. There are no shrine buildings, but there is a himorogi, an altar in the simplest form used for worshipping.

Shikaumi shrine Okitsugū

Okitsugū is a sessha of Shikaumi shrine, located on the small island of Okitsushima, about 100m off the northern coast of Shikanoshima. Sokotsuwatatsumi-no-kami and Amenominakanushi-no-kami are enshrined in a small shrine placed on the highest point of the island.

Usually, it cannot be visited on foot. However a sand bank connects the island when the tide level is very low.

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.