Hofu Tenmangu Shrine

Built in the year 904, this shrine is the first of its kind in Japan to worship Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning.

In the Heian period, Sugawara no Michizane was considered by the emperor as a valuable asset to his reign due to his political career. In 55, he was appointed the role as the emperor’s right hand man. However, he was framed for a crime he didn’t commit by the Fujiwara clan, and in the year 901, he was banished to Dazaifu, Kyushu. On his way to Dazaifu, he stopped by the then Suo Province, which is now known as the Yamaguchi prefecture.

There are over 12,000 shrines worshiping Sugawara no Michizane in Japan, but the Hofu Tenmangu Shrine is the first to ever be built in Japan. This shrine is dubbed one of the three grand gods, including the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, and Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka. Many visitors flock in to prey on their wellbeing in the field of education, family, health, and business.

The main shrine has a calm decor, much like those found during the Heian period. Many of the architectures are considered cultural heritages, and treated as intangible assets by both the country, and the prefecture.