Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
Dazaifu Tenmangu is the head shrine of 10,000 different shrines across Japan dedicated to the spirit of Sugawara Michizane. Sugawara was an acclaimed scholar who was deemed innocent posthumously after being exiled to Dazaifu by Kyoto’s Imperial Court. The main hall was built over his grave and has been preserved as a sacred site of Tenjin worship for over 1100 years.
This is a famous shrine dedicated to the god of learning. Back when I was a student, I used a special pencil from Tenmangu Shrine and wished to pass my entrance exams (and I did!).
When I visited, the main hall was a temporary structure, but it was designed by the same architect who created the Grand Roof Ring for the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The building blended beautifully with the surrounding plants.
There are lots of different omikuji (fortune slips), but the "water omikuji," where the writing appears when you dip it in water, is especially fun.
As for local specialties, I really like the ume-no-mi hijiki from Etoya. It goes perfectly with rice!




























