Dazaifu Tenmangu, the most sacred Tenjin Shrine, Fukuoka, Japan.

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Dazaifu is one of the most popular prefecture for tourists when they come to Fukuoka, since, Dazaifu Tenmangu is the most popular shrine for the education. Actually, Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine is one of two most important Tenmangu shrine in Japan. (Another one is Kitano Tenmango in Kyoto). Both Kitano and Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine was built for dedicated "Sugawara no Michizane", who was regarded as "Ten-Jin-Sama" or the god of knowledge.

The main torii gate of Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine at Dazaifu JR station.

Sugawara no Michizane (A.D. 845-903) is the high-ranking scholar in Heian royal court, but was banished from Kyoto by Fujiwara clan's political artifice. He died 3 years later at Dazaifu, and was entombed at the site of the presently Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine, by his disciple, Umasake no Yasuyuki. The first shrine was built over his grave in A.D. 905 by Umasake no Yasuyuki, but was burnt during Japanese's civil war. Presently shrine was constructed in A.D. 1591 with Momoyama style architecture.

Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine is the popular place for Japanese students to come and pray for successful in education. The Dazaifu Tenmangu lucky charm for education is also popular among Japanese students too, especially, in examination season.

Another highlight of Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine is "Gosingyu" or the God ox. By patting the head of "the holy bronze ox statue" of Dazaifu Tenmangu, then you can become smarter.

Gosingyu at Dazaifu Tenmangu (Photo by Pasit Chintana)

The Gosingyu statue was built for recall the legend of Michizane's body maneuver. The legend said that Yasuyuki used the ox for carried his teacher's body to the graveyard, but the ox stopped, when arrived at the shrine site location. Yasuyuki cannot make the ox moved anymore, which caused him thought that Michizane desire to laid here. Then, Michizane's body was buried at the shrine site, instead.

Actually, there are many bronze ox statues around the shrine, but the "Gosingyu" (God ox) or "Nade-ushi" (Palming ox) is the biggest statue, which stand at the end of Torii walk way. If you want to patting the statue, I recommend to come in the early morning, because the god ox is really popular among both Japanese people and Chinese tourists. So, it take long time for queuing, if you come late.

Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine at the beginning of March.

Another interesting attraction of Dazaifu Tenmangu is plum tree, which start to blossom at the end of January til the end of March. Since, Michizane love plum flower so much, then, there are approximately 6000 plum tree, with 167 variety of species have been planted around the shrine. By the way, the most famous plum tree is "Tobiume" or the flying plum tree, which stand on the right of the main shrine. The legend said that Tobiume is the plum tree which Michizane love the most. Anyway, Tobiume was planted in Kyoto, while Michizane was exiled for his life. Tobiume yearned Michizane so much, then, he uprooted himself, and flew to Dazaifu to reunite with his beloved. Tobiume always be the very first plum which blossom, among thousands of plum trees around the shrine, annually.

Plum flower around the shrine which started to fall at the beginning of March.

To access to the shrine by train, you have to take "Nishitetsu Tenjin-Omuta Railway Line" or "JR Kagoshima Hakata-Omuta line" and drop down at Nishitetsu-Futsukaichi station and JR Futsukaichi station, respectively.

Anyway, I recommend to use Nishitetsu line more, because only Nishitetsu railway company that operate the train direct to Dazaifu. If you come to Futsukaichi station with JR train, then you have to walk to Nishitetsu Futsukaichi station, which take you 10 minutes by walk. Then, you have to take Nishitetsu Dazaifu line, which will direct you to Dazaifu station.

If you rent a car, you can set your GPS to Dazaifu Tenmangu directly. Both google map and ordinary in-car GPS have been set to lead you directly to Dazaifu station. Anyway, if you drive from the city, when you arrive, Dazaifu station will be on your right-hand side, and GPS will ask you to turn right at the cross road to the shrine. Do not turn right!! if you need to park your car. Keep straight through the traffic light, then you will find plenty of parking seat around there. (approximately 100 meters from the junction) The price of the parking seat is 100 yen for 30 minutes, and 400 yen for 3 hours.

Anyway, Japanese parking machines do not similar as what we met in the US or European countries. In the US or European countries, we have to pay for the parking ticket at the machine before, then leave the ticket on your car. Besides, in Japan, the machines do not sell the ticket, they will automatically engage the grip to your car, after parking for few minutes, then the machine will count on the duration of your parking. So, you need to pay it later, when you comeback. They cannot help if you pay it before, cause they do not have any bill or ticket to confirm your payment. (Actually, I paid it before once. LOL)