Daizaifu Tenmangu Shrine: Fukuoka Prefecture

Without a doubt the best and most popular Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture is the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine located approx. 30 minutes from central Fukuoka City.

The Shrine is dedicated to the God of Learning and as such is busy all through the year with many student visitors coming here to pray for upcoming success in their educational endeavors, especially during examination time at various periods during the year. 

6000 or so Plum Trees have been planted on the site and they begin to bloom around early February to early March.  Of course the Cherry Blossoms are also unique to the area and it must be added that during Autumn the leaf changing season of the incredible beautiful Japanese Maple Trees are exceptional and worth a to visit the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in mid to late November.

The entrance to the shrine is a long street lined with small stalls filled with local specialities, a variety of food and drinks and of course many different types of souvenirs that one can take back home after their travels in Japan.

The Shrine itself isn`t anything special and distinctively different to others in the area but the surrounds and the gardens are numerous and each twist and turn brings you to another viewing point and another place to explore.  I highly recommend this place and it is a regular destination on our Fukuoka 1 day Private Tours.

Here is the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine`s location on a map:

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How to purify yourself

A place for families to come

You will see a lot of kimono's

A place to cleanse your soul

A popular place indeed

Lots of shopping options

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Tachibana Shrine: Chijiwa, Nagasaki Prefecture

Tachibana Shrine in Chijiwa Nagasaki is dedicated to army lieutenant colonel Shuta Tachibana who became famous in the Russo-Japanese War which occurred during the beginning on the 20th century. Tachibana Shrine is a noted place for the viewing of cherry tree blossoms and many people come and visit this exquisite flower viewing  place in spring.

For New Year, the world's biggest New Year's pine and bamboo decorations more than 11m in height are installed at the entrance to a shrine.  They have caught the attention of many followers including the Guinness Book of Records who have noted the fact!

The Shrine and the surrounding Park area are just beautiful, esthetically pleasing and at many times of the year (cherry blossoms in spring and maple leaves in autumn) are picture perfect.

Whenever I have visitors from overseas and from other places in Japan, Tachibana Shrine is always on the top of my list of preferred tourist destinations for our private tours.  On this day, nearing the middle of summer, the birds were chirping, the cicada's making a roaring noise, the sun was shining intensely but I was in my element.  A picture perfect day and and some amazing photos and video to show for it.  Definitely worth and look and tour of the area.

Check out Tachibana Shrine in Chijiwa on this map:

 

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Group blessing

Shinto Praying Style

Peaceful location

Sunset perfection

The entrance

3 lovely ladies posing

Water purifying

3 2 1 Bow

Please check out the Tachibana Shrine in Chijiwa, Nagasaki on this video:

Korokan Ruins Museum: Fukuoka City

The Korokan Building was built in the 7th Century along the Hakata Bay and was primarily used as a Guest House for Foreign Diplomats.  It was this building that was the stepping stone to promote Fukuoka as a Gateway Destination and one of the main reasons why this region of Japan has a long and rich history of cultural exchange with Kingdoms from around the ancient world.

The remains of the Korokan was dicovered in 1987 during the renovations of the local Baseball Stadium.  Not until this point in time was the history and the importance of the area fully understood.  Only once the full archeological dig had been completed did historians really understand how progressive the buildings and society really was at the time.

The Korokan allows visitors to immerse themselves both visually and thru the use of their imagination to step back in time.  My favorite part of the exhibition was the unearthed pottery from various Asian regions such as Korea and China and how these ancient connections developed Japan`s ceramic industry we see in modern times.

Fukuoka Day Tours always includes this site on our full day walking/ subway tours.

Please look below to see the Korokan Ruins Museum on a map:

 

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Yamazato Air Raid Shelters: Nagasaki City

Yamazato Air Raid Shelters in Nagasaki are located on the grounds of Yamazato Elementary School and are possible for viewings but only on weekends and holidays as during the week regular school classes are held at this working Elementary School.

In early 1945 as the war effort reached a fever pitch, an air raid shelter was dug at the Yamazato Elementary School, located about 600 meters north of the hypocenter, in order to protect the lives of the pupils from anticipated air attacks.  After the atomic bombing, burned and injured children, teachers and neighborhood residents crowded into the shelter, where ultimately most of them died.

Although the Yamazato Air Raid Shelters are now closed and chained off to the general public, their images still give you chill as you can nearly see and feel the fear and cries of desperation on the children as they struggle to find friends and loved ones and desperate just for one drop of water to quench their thirst.

The Yamazato Elementary School site also has a Children's Memorial which was erected in November 1949.  A small girl clad in traditional farm-style clothing kneels in prayer amid the flames ignited by the atomic bomb.  This memorial was erected upon the suggestion of Dr. Nagai and was paid for with funds donated by him and with royalties from the book "Living Under an Atomic Cloud", a collection of excerpts taken from the diaries of pupils who survived.  It is dedicated to the memory of the 1300 pupils and teachers who died as well as their families.

This place and its remaining Memorials certainly is a sombre and sad place to visit.  It is very hard to try an imagine all the children, teachers and innocent people that were affected by the viciousness of war.  It is from these places that we can learn to forgive the wrongs of the past and build a better future for our children, one where war and terror can be eliminated from the horizon.

A must see but only on weekends as on weekdays regular school classes take place!

Come and check out Yamazato Air Raid Shelters in Nagasaki on this map:

 

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The Air Raid Shelters saved many lives

Restored to their previous state

They are long indeed

One of the tunnels

From the outside

Click on the videos below to see more of the Yamazato Air Raid Shelters Nagasaki:

Suwa Shrine: Nagasaki City

The famous Nagasaki Suwa Shrine is the major Shrine of Nagasaki and home to the revered Nagasaki Kunchi Festival.  It is located in the northern part of the city on the slopes of Mount Tamazono and features a 277-step stone staircase leading up the mountain to the various buildings that comprise the shrine.

The official date of construction for Suwa Shrine is 1614, the same year as Tokugawa Ieyasu`s edict against Christianity.  Although there was little more than a small structure to mark the position of the future shrine at this time, it has grown into the massive structure and many sub structures that we see today.

Suwa Shrine survived the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.  It is thought to have survived intact due to its strategic location in the central part of Mount Tamazono southern flank.  In the aftermath of the bomb local residents were quick to note that while the famous Urakami Cathedral and surrounding Catholic neighborhoods were obliterated, the Shinto Shrine still stood. This was considered to be significant by the survivors of the bombing, showing the power of the native Japanese Gods as opposed to the imported Christian God.  In addition, Priests from Suwa Shrine took an active role in the rebuilding of Nagasaki, including consecrating the land and purifying structures that still stood after the fact.

Nagasaki Suwa Shrine is also the host to many annual festivals.  These festivals serve the joint purpose of honoring the Gods, provide a sense of community for shrine worshipers and providing exposure and income for the shrine itself.  Some of these festivals are typical to all major Shinto shrines in Japan, but some are unique to Suwa.

The most famous of Suwa Shrine's festivals is Okunchi.  This festival began along with the founding of the shrine as a way to both demonstrate its new importance in the community and as a way to hunt for Hidden Christians. Kunchi is held from October 7th to 9th every year and is considered one of the major festivals in all of Japan.  It has been designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset.

As of yet I haven't had the privilege to attend the annual Okunchi Festival as tickets and locations are had to obtain because of the popularity but around the city there are many complimentary places whereby free viewing performances of various dances and exhibitions are available to the general public.  It is absolutely on my to do wish list and I will be making this one of my "Must Do Nagasaki Experiences".

Check out Famous Nagasaki Suwa Shrine here on a map:

 

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Lots of steps to climb, 277 to be exact

The main building

Lots of shrine gates

Japanese Flag

The view from the top!

Pray time

Lots of Statues

An interesting place indeed

Interesting and beautiful water feature

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