Kamado Jinja, the hidden shrine of love. Dazaifu, Fukuoka

#KamadoJinja #sakura #fallfoliage #Dazaifu #Fukuoka #love #marriage

If you go to Fukuoka for the first time, Dazaifu would be one of your destination. Certainly, Dazaifu Tenmangu is the must, which you have to visit. However, if Dazaifu Tenmangu is the best place for Plum flower blossom in Dazaifu, Kamado Jinja is also the best place for Sakura blossom and the fall foliage.

Kamado Jinja in the late afternoon of March.

Kamado Jinja was founded by Emperor Tenji (A.D. 626-672), in the year of A.D. 664, for devoted to mount Homan's gods. (some source said thousands, while some said 8 million) The shrine was built to face unlucky direction. The research does not show that which sanctuary is the original one, but we know that the shrine has three sanctuaries. By the way, the mid-way sanctuary had been ruined (The ruin still remaining.), so the remaining sanctuaries are at the peak and on the foot of mount Homan. (We will talk just about the top sanctuary only.)

The top sanctuary was found for dedicating to "Tamayorihime no Mikoto" (Mother of Emperor Jinmu, the Japanese first ruler.), who was reverenced as the god of love and matchmaking. Some source said the top sanctuary was found in honor of her appearance during ascetic training of monk Shinren at the year of 683.

The shrine is famous among Japanese young women and couples. You can easily find many activities about love and marriage around the shrine. You can also find their famous "love amulet", including "Ema" (wooden plate for write down your wish about love), and "Koyori" (paper which was twisted to become string) at the modern shrine office and visitor center. You can tie Koyori at the "happiness tree of marriage" at the balcony of the shrine office, and the god will bless you with the good matching.

Therefore, there are three types of "Omikuji" (fortune paper) in this shrine (the normal one, the love one, and the flower one). They have written the type on the Omikuji box already, but if you not sure, do not shy to ask miko first. The Omikuji box is stand on the left side of the shrine office, when you face into it. Another famous one is "Aikyou" or "charm rock", which you have to close your eyes and walk from one rock to the opposed one. The legend said if you can do it safely, your wish (about love) will be granted.

The "Chozuya" and "Ema" board will be on your left hand side, when you approach from the front gate.

For the one who want to come here by train from the city, it will take you approximately 3 hours for a trip, include heading back to the city. (I started from Tenjin station, so it's easier than take JR train a lot.) And for heading to the top of Homan mountain, it take approximately 40 minutes by walk (approximately 2.8 km and two-third is uphill), or around 10 minutes by community bus, the green one, which cost you 100 yen, from Dazaifu station. (The bus will come every half an hour.) Actually, I used just 28 minutes to walk from Dazaifu station to Kamado shrine, but I recommend you to prepare the drink for refresh yourself, if you want to follow my path. (LOL)

If you use google map for routing, it will lead you to the side entrance, which will cause you walk for 5 minutes more. I recommend you to go straight, instead of take the last sharp left turn. You will see the parking lots around yourself, and the main Torii gate in front of you at the turning point. (The community bus will park on the left hand side lots.) Go up ahead through the Torii gate and stairway, then you will find yourself directly to the front of the shrine. (You should see the amulet center on your right hand at the top of the stairway.) If you come by your car, you can park around there. I cannot remember about the parking price, but there are no parking machine here , so you have to pay the fee to the officer in the wooden guardhouse, instead.