“Kushida Shrine” is the head shrine in Hakata and has the longest history. Hakata Gion Hanamasa is enshrined here. The shrine is known as the nickname of “Okushida-san” and loved by local people. It is one of the must-go place when you visit Hakata.

“Hakata Gion Yamakasa” is a festival held from the 1^st to the 15^th of July every year, and is recognized as the important intangible cultural property of the nation. In 2016, it was registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. “Hakata Gion Yamagasa” has 2 types of portable shrines, “Kakiyama(kasa)”, which is carried on people’s shoulders and run around the city of Hakata and “Kazariyama(kasa)”, which has the height of 10 to 15m and displayed for people. Normally, both Yamagasa are dismantled after the festival, but at “Kushida Shrine”, “Kazariyama(kasa) is displayed all the time. (New one is made on July 1^st of the following year. You cannot see it in June because new one is being made).

Here are some places you should go in the srhine when you visit “Kushida Shrine”. First, you should look up when you go under the tower gate. “Eto Ehoban” is hanged from the sealing. It shows the direction of east, west, south, and north on the inside and shows Eho (direction with good omen) with the Zodiac on the outside. It is a rare calendar, and every year on New Year’s Eve, they spin the arrow and show the Eho for the new year.

In the shrine, they have explanation about “Kushida Shrine” and “Hakata Gion Yamagasa” in English, Chinese, and Korean as well as the map of the shrine in English.

After going through the tower gate, cleanse yourselves at Chozuya before visiting the shrine. First, you use a dipper to wash your left hand and then the right hand. Then, you put water in your mouth using your left hand and rinse your mouth. Wash your left hand again, rinse the handle of the dipper with the leftover water and put the dipper back in place.

After walking through the path and come in front of the front shrine, offer some money and ring the bell. The general rule of visiting a shrine is “2 bows, 2 claps, and 1 bow”. First you bow twice, clap twice, pray to show your appreciation, and bow once.

After praying, get a omikuji, a written oracle to see your luck. At “Kushida Shrine” they have omikujis not only in Japanese, but also in English, Korean, Chinese, and Taiwanese.

Rocks placed in this area of the shrine is called “Chikara Ishi (Power Stone)”. Long ago, Unohi Sumo was held often and famous wrestlers lifted rocks to show how powerful they are. Those rocks were offered to the shrine. Yokozunas such as Hakuho and Asashoryu have offered rocks in recent years.

【Checkout events throughout the year!】

In Setsubun season, “Otafuku masks” that are said to be “the biggest in Japan” is displayed at the tower gate, north gate, and south gate.

In “Hakata Gion Yamagasa”, They call the offering event of “Oiyamanarashi” held on July 12^th and “Oiyama(kasa)” held on July 15^th held on “Seido” set up in the shrine is called “Kushidairi”.

“Goshinko” held on October 24^th is a glorious feature in the fall in Hakata with a parade of portable shrine pulled by an ox carriage, brass band, and children

【Tourist spots in surrounding area】
■Hakatamachiya Furusatokan
The life in Hakata in the Meji and Taisho period is recreated in 3 houses. You can see the displays of everyday articles that were passed down in merchants’ house and see how traditional crafts of Hakata are made.
●Address： 6-10 Reisenmachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
●TEL：092-281-7761


■Hakata Traditional Craft and Design Museum
It displays and introduce traditional crafts associated with Hakata, Fukuoka, such as Hakataori (textile) and Hakata dolls. They have various exhibits, workshops, and lectures.
●Address：6-1 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
●TEL：092-409-5450


■Kushida Shrine■
●Address：1-41 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
●TEL：092-291-2951
●Hours：
Visiting: 4:00～22:00、
Shrine Office: 9:00～17:00、
Hakata Historical Museum: 10:00 to 17:00 （Last admission at16:30）
●Admission：Hakata Historical Museum, 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for high school and college students, 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students, free for children under elementary school
●Closed day：Hakata Historical Museum, Mondays (If Monday is a holiday, it is closed on the following day)
※Multi-language information board available (English, Chinese, and Korean)