As soon as you step out of Nishitetsu Dazaifu Station and make your way through the lively Omotesando to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, it instantly feels like you’ve entered a Japanese garden filled with scholarly energy and classical poetry! This is the head shrine of more than 10,000 Tenmangu shrines across Japan and enshrines Sugawara Michizane, the god of learning. Every year, countless students preparing for major exams and travelers praying for success in their careers come here to draw fortunes and pray for blessings. Upon entering the shrine grounds, the first things you see are the three red arched Taiko Bridges spanning Shinji Pond. They represent the past, present, and future. As you cross the red bridges step by step toward the main sanctuary, shaded by green trees on both sides with reflections shimmering on the water, even a restless heart gradually becomes calm.
The first thing you have to do here is touch the sacred ox statues throughout the grounds, which have been polished to a shine by countless visitors! Legend says that if you touch the sacred ox’s head and horns and then touch your own head, you can absorb the wisdom of the god of learning, sharpen your mind, and improve your studies. More than 6,000 tobiume and other plum trees are planted throughout the shrine. When the plum blossoms bloom in early spring, the garden fills with a subtle fragrance, and the mix of pink and white is beautiful beyond words. After praying, walk back along the path to Omotesando and grab a freshly baked, crispy, piping-hot Umegae mochi stamped with a plum blossom design. The outside is slightly crisp, while the red bean filling is warm and soft. Paired with a sip of hot tea, the entire pilgrimage feels soothing and satisfying!
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine | Review by Jk
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Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan’s three great castles, instantly overwhelms you with the imposing power of a top-tier military stronghold from the Warring States period as you look up at its massive, jet-black main keep standing tall and commanding! Personally designed by the castle-building genius Kato Kiyomasa, this legendary castle’s most astonishing feature is undoubtedly the ingeniously curved “musha-gaeshi” stone walls. The base looks gently sloped and easy to climb, but it gets steeper the higher you go, becoming almost completely vertical at 90 degrees near the top. Even the most agile ninja or samurai would only end up hopelessly sliding back down halfway! The entire castle suffered devastating damage from powerful earthquakes, but today its main and secondary keeps have risen again through an impressive combination of modern engineering and traditional craftsmanship. The black wooden exterior walls and pure white accents look incredibly striking in the sunlight. Walking along the newly built accessible elevated viewing walkway to the top floor of the main keep, you can take in sweeping views of downtown Kumamoto and the distant Aso mountain range. Its resilient, indomitable spirit truly fills you with deep respect the longer you look!
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You’re instantly surrounded by the warm energy of an island vacation and lively musical rhythms! This straight avenue, about 1.6 kilometers long, rapidly rose from the ruins and flourished after the war, earning it the famous nickname “Miracle Mile.” Both sides of the street are lined with tall palm trees swaying in the breeze and packed with colorful souvenir shops, Ryukyu cuisine restaurants, izakayas, and small variety stores. Grinning shisa statues with wide-open mouths stand everywhere by the entrances, while shopkeepers enthusiastically call out to passersby. The air is filled with the sweet, oily aroma of freshly fried Okinawan sata andagi doughnuts and the savory smell of grilled Agu pork. From morning to night, the entire street is always crowded and bursting with energy!
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Nara Park
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I was completely charmed by the thousands of wild sika deer! Spanning more than 600 hectares, this vast green space completely overturns the usual idea of an urban park. The deer here are regarded as sacred messengers of the gods and have lived in harmony with the ancient shrines and temples for generations. As soon as you hold up some freshly bought deer crackers, deer from all around immediately trot over with their bright, expressive eyes. They even repeatedly bow as if politely asking for a snack, making the interaction incredibly fun!
The park perfectly brings together the World Heritage sites of Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine with the primeval forest. Walking beneath towering ancient trees, accompanied by the distant ringing of temple bells and the crisp sound of the deer’s footsteps, the peaceful, laid-back atmosphere unique to this ancient capital is completely soothing for the body, mind, and soul.
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