Today, we'll take you to Dazaifu! Before setting out, we enjoyed breakfast in our hotel room and brewed a cup of capsule coffee. If you're traveling from Fukuoka City to Dazaifu and Yanagawa, we highly recommend staying around the Tenjin Station area. It connects to Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station, Tenjin Underground Shopping Street, and Solaria Plaza. We stayed at Fukuoka Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel, just a 5-minute walk from the station. At specific times, Nishitetsu operates a direct tourist train to Dazaifu called the "Tabito." No advance reservation is needed, and there's no additional fee; you can board directly using an IC card. The regular train looks like this, and the express one looks like this. The platform shows information about the nearest train. We take the train labeled "Tabito" at the front. Each train car represents different scenic spots and flowers of Dazaifu throughout the seasons: Car 5 features Dazaifu Tenmangu and winter blooming plum blossoms. Car 4 showcases Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning, and springtime wisteria. Car 3 highlights the Taiko Bridge and early summer irises. Car 2 introduces Enokisha, the place where Sugawara no Michizane descended to Earth, and late summer lotus flowers. Car 1 presents Kamado Shrine and autumn foliage. The interior of each car is decorated with five different motifs, each representing a different meaning. Each train car has a "lucky card" that you can keep as a souvenir. In car 3, you can write a wish and bring it to Kamado Shrine to receive an original souvenir. There's also a commemorative stamp next to the wish paper that you can use. After approximately half an hour on the train, you'll arrive at Nishitetsu Dazaifu Station. Follow the signs and exit from the central ticket gate. In front of the station, you'll find the bus, taxi, and highway bus boarding area. We arrived around 10:15 AM, and it's recommended to explore the shopping street along the approach after getting off. Having lunch before 12:00 PM can help avoid long queues. Apart from craft shops and souvenir stores, the most prominent are the "Umegaemochi" shops. I'm immediately drawn to the Muscat Dango skewers at the "Tenzan." Although the "Kanou Strawberry" version is a winter exclusive, I'm more interested in the Muscat flavor. The grape fragrance is delightful, and the rice cakes are chewy. Passing through the stone-made second torii gate, we encounter the distinctive storefront of "Umegaemochi Yasutake." This shop is bustling with many visitors. There's also a store named "Sumikkogurashido" specializing in merchandise related to "Sumikkogurashi" (corner creatures). If you're a fan of mentaiko, you can explore "Fukuya," where they also offer mentaiko tea-infused rice for dine-in! They sell traditional mentaiko and mentaiko sauce. We buy a jar of mentaiko powder and a can of mentaiko. There are various products available, making it a popular destination. Next up is the Starbucks, a must-visit spot in Dazaifu. Designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma, the building is constructed with over two thousand interwoven wooden sticks, creating a visually striking structure. Another highlight is the historic Umegae mochi shop"Kasanoya." Through the glass window, you can observe the master craftsmen making Umegae mochi, a red bean-filled rice cake with a plum blossom imprint. It's sweet but not overpowering, and I find it pairs exceptionally well with unsweetened tea. The glass crafts shop"bidoro" features a wide array of delicate and adorable animal-themed crystal balls. Famous for its unique charm, Shiraumedo is renowned for its "Goukaku Katsu Bao." The sight of the buns feels warmly familiar. After strolling through the shopping street along the approach, it's approaching noon. To avoid potential crowds and queues, we decide to have lunch first. Our choice is the Ichiran Ramen Dazaifu branch, offering features not found in other branches, such as the "Five-Sided Bowl Goukaku Ramen." While waiting in line, the staff provide an order sheet, allowing us to customize the richness of the broth, the firmness of the noodles, and the toppings. We then use the order machine to select a set meal or individual items, including optional toppings. We wait for approximately 15 minutes. Interestingly, upon entering and leaving the restaurant, the staff didn't say "welcome" or "thank you"; instead, they shouted "幸せ！" ("happiness")—using the power of words to convey happiness to the customers. The individual seating arrangement ensures that each guest has their privacy. Additionally, there are supplementary order forms available in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Guests can fill these out and leave them on the table for the staff to collect, eliminating potential language barriers. There are also hooks below the table to hang bags. The pronunciation of "Tall" is similar to the Japanese word "得到" (デトー), which means "obtain" or "get." The qualified set includes a hot spring egg and a plate of toppings such as seaweed, shredded wood ear mushrooms, and char siu. The five-sided bowl, with its pentagon shape, sounds like "qualified." After finishing the soup, you can see the word "decision" at the bottom of the bowl. The 59-centimeter-long noodles, with their Japanese pronunciation, also sound like "qualified." This Ichiran is filled with good luck charms for exam takers. It's worth experiencing even if you're not taking an exam! After eating, we continue to head to Dazaifu Tenmangu. Dazaifu Tenmangu is the head shrine of all Tenmangu shrines in Japan, and it enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning, who is buried here. Because it is the deity of learning, Dazaifu Tenmangu becomes a must-visit shrine for students. After passing through the fourth torii gate, you will first see the "Divine Bull Statue". head, praying for increased wisdom. There are 11 Divine Bull Statue in the shrine, and this is the largest one. Visitors queue up to touch the bull's head, praying for increased wisdom. Continuing forward and passing through the fifth torii gate, you will see the heart-shaped pond and the Taiko Bridge. The red arch bridge, Taiko Bridge, represents the past, present, and future. Next to the Heart-shaped Pond, there are various plants and an old tree, creating a beautiful scene. Passing the arch bridge symbolizing the past signifies letting go of past matters. Beside the flat bridge of Taiko Bridge, there is a sub-shrine called Imao Shrine. The flat bridge next to Taiko Bridge represents the present. After crossing the bridge symbolizing the future, you can see torii gates and a two-story gate. The stone torii gate, with a history of over a hundred years, is significant. At the Outdated Amulet Return, you can return old amulets and offer a votive offering equivalent to the amount of the amulet as a gesture of gratitude. Proceeding to the main hall, there is a two-story gate on the right side. Before worship, cleanse your hands at the Chōzuya on the right. The depiction of a kirin is to praise the noble character of Sugawara no Michizane. Continuing to the right, you can reach the Dazaifu Tenmangu museum. By exploring the rich collection, one can learn about the history of the shrine and the deeds of Sugawara no Michizane. Next to the inner shrine on the right side of the main hall, a patch of red maple leaves was discovered. Originally thought that the autumn foliage might not be prominent, although not abundant, the presence of red and orange hues made it quite beautiful. Passing through the two-story gate, we finally arrive at the main hall. Unfortunately, the main hall is currently undergoing significant renovations in preparation for the grand festival commemorating the 1125th anniversary of Sugawara no Michizane's passing in 2027. The temporary roof of the main hall drew inspiration from the legend of the flying plum blossoms. Plants from the shrine grounds were transplanted onto the roof, creating a visual representation of soaring imagery. As Sugawara no Michizane had a fondness for plum trees, over 6000 plum trees are planted within the grounds of Dazaifu Tenmangu. On the left side of the main hall, there is a place for receiving seal stamps and writing Ema (prayer plaques). You can also purchase protective amulets here, including those from Kamado Shrine. According to legend, this particular plum tree didn't want to be separated from Sugawara no Michizane, so it uprooted itself and flew to Dazaifu, becoming the iconic plum tree of Dazaifu Tenmangu called the "Flying Plum," the most famous plum tree. Behind the main hall, there is also a sacred area featuring a thousand-year-old camphor tree. Visitors often seek to touch this enormous ancient tree. The Knife Ceremony, a mound dedicated to appease the souls of animals used as food, and as a token of gratitude for the knives used by chefs, is also present. There is also the Nomi Sukumoya Monument and Fudezuka. Two massive married camphor trees stand behind the main hall. In Dazaifu, besides plum trees, there are indeed many trees that are hundreds or even thousands of years old. The large camphor tree located on the left side of the main hall, outside the Seishin-kan, has a history of 1500 years and is designated as a natural monument of Fukuoka Prefecture. As we conclude our visit, it's nearing 2 PM, and it's time to dine at the popular restaurant , Kaguno Konomi. We opt for the classic Chestnut Mont Blanc. First, you need to place your order at the outdoor ordering machine. Inside the shop, transparent dividers allow customers to observe the entire process of making Mont Blanc. We also ordered a Chestnut Popsicle and Peach Water. The popsicle has a chestnut in the middle, The Mont Blanc is incredibly dense, filled with ice cream, creating a delightful combination. The interior of the shop is designed for standing consumption, making it a great choice for Mont Blanc enthusiasts. Next, we are heading to Kamado Shrine. To get back to Dazaifu Station, you can take a bus to Kamado Shrine. There are signs in front of the station guiding visitors to the bus stop across the street. After crossing the road, you'll notice the long queue at Ramen restaurant Ramen Danbo. Just outside Fukuoka Bank, across from the station, there's a bus stop for Kamado Shrine. The one-way bus ticket costs 100 yen, and the small bus is crowded with tourists. After about a 15-minute drive, we arrive at Kamado Shrine, which is a branch shrine under the auspices of the Imperial Household Agency. Kamado Shrine, located on Mount Hōman, is a popular spot for viewing autumn leaves in Kyushu. We are fortunate to witness the beautiful autumn foliage, showcasing gradient colors that were truly captivating. Kamado Shrine at the trailhead of Mount Hōman has a history of over 1,300 years. The main deity enshrined at Hojumingu Kamado Shrine is Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto, the mother of Emperor Jimmu, and the shrine is renowned for its power to connect people. The Temizuya allows visitors to purify themselves by washing their hands with water scooped up directly. The main hall is modestly decorated with natural wood, emphasizing the solemnity of the shrine. In front of the main hall, the "Suigami" (water mirror) is believed to purify one's thoughts. By making wishes with a pure and honest heart, desires can come true. There is also a place to deposit old amulets. The Ema (votive plaques) hung there are filled with prayers for connections and relationships. On the right side of the main hall, you can receive Goshuin (sacred seal stamps) at the designated counter. Behind the main hall, near the Gokoku Shrine (Festival Hall), you can appreciate beautiful autumn foliage. There's a Love Stone path where, by closing your eyes and walking from one Love Stone to another, your wish for love is said to come true. After obtaining the Goshuin from Kamado Shrine, it's time to explore the stylish Goshuindo (amulet bestowal place) designed by the renowned artist Masamichi Katayama. The cherry blossom pattern on the ceiling is the shrine's emblem. Here, you can choose from a variety of amulets that symbolize different kinds of connections. This area also leads to the observation stage, providing a scenic view. Sitting on the marble chair, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Dazaifu city, witness the sunset, and immerse yourself in the seasonal atmosphere within the shrine's grounds. After completing the visit, we head to the bus station. Kamado Shrine, situated on the mountain, has a quieter ambiance compared to the bustling crowd at Dazaifu Tenmangu, offering a more tranquil mountain setting. Descending from the mountain, we wait for the bus at the original bus station. The one-way fare remains at 100 yen, and card payment is accepted. Returning to Dazaifu Station, we board a regular train, transferring at Nishitetsu Futsukaichi Station before heading back to Tenjin. And with this, our one-day tour in Dazaifu concludes. The summary table of the attractions is provided for your reference. In the next episode, we will board the Shinkansen and head to Kitakyushu to explore one of Japan's 100 famous castles, Kokura Castle, surrounded by beautiful gingko trees. You can witness the legendary duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojirō on Ganryūjima. Located at the northernmost point of Kyushu, separated by the Kanmon Strait from Shimonoseki City, is Moji Port. Here, you can appreciate the nostalgic atmosphere of Moji Port Retro Area and explore various attractions. Don't miss out on the delicious grilled curry, also enjoying the scenic views on the iconic Blue Wing Bridge over the Kanmon Strait. Visit the famous "Banana Man" landmark and then explore the Kyushu Railway Memorial, a must-visit for railway enthusiasts. Dive into the history of Kyushu's railways and even experience driving a miniature train! Stay tuned for more exciting adventures! If you enjoyed our video, please like and subscribe!
