What other travelers are saying about Kushida Shrine
Must-see shrine🙏🏻
• It's the guardian shrine of Hakata - locals consider it the spiritual heart of the
area.
• Center of the famous Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival (held every July).
• Very easy to visit: about 10 minutes on foot from Hakata Station.
Highlights
• A massive Yamakasa float displayed year-round (even outside festival season).
• Traditional shrine architecture with a lively but welcoming atmosphere.
• The "Chikara-ishi" (power stones) and lucky charms unique to Hakata.
The main attractions include the towering Otafuku mask, the intricately decorated float (kazariyama), the sacred ginkgo tree, and various cultural artifacts displayed within the shrine grounds.
Founded in 757 AD, Kushida Shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu (the sun goddess), Susanoo (the storm god), and their brother Tsukuyomi (the moon god). It has been a central religious site in Fukuoka for centuries.
The best time to visit is during the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in July, but it is also enjoyable during the New Year celebrations and cherry blossom season in spring.
Kushida Shrine is accessible by a short walk from either Gion Station or Nakasu-Kawabata Station on the Fukuoka City Subway.
The Hakata Gion Yamakasa, with its dramatic races and elaborate floats, is the main event. Additionally, the shrine hosts Setsubun, where beans are thrown to ward off evil spirits and other seasonal festivals.
This shrine is very instagrammable, and everyone knows it. There wasn’t one spot in this entire shrine without a wait to take a photograph. There were several tour buses parked in the parking lot, and the place was crawling with local and international visitors. One of the entrances has a lovely lit up lantern decoration, but as I mentioned, there were tons of couples and families queuing up to get photos, so it was a bit challenging to enter without messing up someone’s shot. The inner grounds had some lovely red gates similar to the famous Fushimi Inari shrine, but there as with everywhere else, it took ~5 minutes to get a decent, non-crowded photo. Of course, there are charms and fortunes available for purchase near the main shrine building. The portable shrine was another great photo spot, and it fit with the entire social media friendly vibe of the shrine. Honestly, there are many more shrines in the city to visit, and if crowed bother you, find them and enjoy some peace and quiet instead of social media.
Kushida Shrine, known affectionately to locals as "Okushi-san" is the oldest Shinto shrine in Fukuoka, central to the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival.
Being located among modern office buildings and shopping malls adds another level of spirituality to the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Drink from the well surrounded by cranes to grant longevity and eternal youth, but not too much. First step is to wish for own longevity with the first mouthful, the second mouthful should be accompanied by the wellbeing of your family and the last mouthful is for the health of friends or partners.
Another activity is to test your strength with the chikara ishi. Only attempt to lift the 試石 and leave the rest untouched.
If you happen to be coming here during winter in January, you might lucky to pass through the largest otafuku mask in Japan!
This is a well-known shrine in Hakata. Its convenient location near Tenjin, Fukuoka’s shopping district, means it attracts a steady flow of visitors coming to pay their respects. It’s another easily accessible spot worth visiting while exploring the city.
A must-visit spot in Fukuoka! Kushida Shrine is rich in history and culture, with a peaceful atmosphere and beautiful architecture. The decorative Yamakasa floats are stunning—even outside of festival season. Easy to access from Hakata Station, and perfect for a quick spiritual stop or a deeper cultural experience. Highly recommended for anyone exploring Hakata!
