Kushida Shrine

Shintoism is a unique aspect of Japanese culture, and Fukuoka’s Kushida Shrine is a great place to experience this Indigenous religion. This shrine hosts a vibrant summer festival, but if you’re visiting outside of July, you can see the colorful floats displayed on the shrine’s grounds. You can also admire the elegant cranes guarding the well, and even take a few sips of water, which many locals believe grants longevity. (Note that the water is salty, so don’t have too much.)

It’s easy to visit the shrine independently, along with other attractions in central Fukuoka, like Canal City Hakata. You can also add it to a private guided tour of the city, which typically includes the Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine as well.

• The shrine is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

• There’s no entry fee, but a small coin donation is appreciated, as at all Shinto shrines.

• English-language information pamphlets are available at the shrine.

The shrine is in central Fukuoka, about a 10–15-minute walk east of Hakata Station. The nearest JR train station, named Kushida Shrine, is on the Nanakuma Line, just one stop from Hakata. Another couple of train stations are only slightly further away: Gion and Nakasukawabata, both on the Airport Line.

Kushida Shrine is open daily, from early morning until late in the evening. In the first two weeks of July, the shrine hosts Fukuoka’s annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, for which local residents make large, decorative floats that they race through the streets, starting from the shrine. It’s an exciting event that’s worth checking out, though you’ll encounter heavy crowds, particularly toward the end of the festival.

Another important Shinto shrine in Fukuoka is Dazaifu Tenmangu, 30 minutes south of the central city. Here you can stroll through beautiful grounds full of cypress trees, visit several shrine buildings, see a classical dance or art performance, and learn more about Shinto and Japanese culture at the two on-site museums.