Kushida
Shrine

01 / The essentials

Hakata in miniature.

Known locally as Okushida-san, Kushida Shrine is Hakata’s guardian shrine and the spiritual home of Hakata Gion Yamakasa. Its compact grounds make it an easy stop during a walk around central Hakata.

We suggest allowing 30–60 minutes for the grounds. This is an editorial planning estimate, not an official tour duration; add time for the history museum, nearby sights, and festival crowds.

02 / What to see

What to see throughout the year

Look for the decorative Yamakasa float, the worship hall, and the gate’s zodiac compass. The float is normally displayed outside June; the Otafuku masks belong to the Setsubun season.

Kazariyama: the decorative float

The tall kazariyama is a display float filled with figures and scenes from stories. It is different from the smaller floats carried in the festival race. The prefectural tourism guide describes a display about 13 metres high, replaced each July 1 and normally visible outside June. Designs change from year to year.

03 / Explore in 3D

See the shrine in its city setting

Start with a view of the shrine in Hakata, then follow the guided camera tour from the nearby station to the gate and key spots around the grounds. The route line follows mapped paths where available and is for orientation, not turn-by-turn directions. Drag to look around and scroll or pinch to zoom.

Google imagery and archive photographs are not live views. Buildings, displays, and access arrangements may differ when you visit.

04 / Street view

Look in from the street

The street-level view loads automatically as you approach this section. Drag to look around from outside the shrine. This is a single viewpoint, not a guided walk through the grounds. If Google cannot show imagery, the directions below remain available.

05 / Around the grounds

Around the grounds

Take a slow circuit of the grounds and look above eye level as well as along the paths. Several of the shrine’s most distinctive details are on its gates and buildings.

The worship hall

Three bells stand in a row at the worship hall. Look up for the carvings of the wind and thunder gods on the building.

The ginkgo and zodiac compass

Beside the two-storey gate stands Kushida no Ginan, a sacred ginkgo said to be over a thousand years old. Under the gate’s ceiling hangs the Eto Eho Ban, a disc decorated with the zodiac animals. Its arrow is turned on New Year’s Eve to indicate the coming year’s lucky direction.

Power stones and the crane well

The chikara-ishi include stones dedicated by famous sumo wrestlers. These offerings are distinct from the tameshi-ishi used for testing strength; do not assume every stone is for lifting. The nearby crane-decorated well is associated with longevity, but its water is not drinkable, according to the prefectural tourism guide.

Shimekake Inari Shrine

Behind the main shrine, a row of vermilion torii leads to Shimekake Inari, also called Ashidome Inari. It is associated with business prosperity; “Ashidome” expresses a wish for customers to stop by local shops.

Hakata History Museum

The Hakata History Museum displays shrine treasures and material about Hakata. The city tourism guide lists opening hours of 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. It is normally closed on Mondays, or the following day if Monday is a public holiday; check for changes during festivals and New Year. Photography inside the museum is not allowed.

06 / History

A short history

Tradition dates the shrine’s founding to 757. The prefectural tourism guide attributes the present shrine buildings to Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s rebuilding of Hakata in 1587. Its role as Hakata’s guardian continues in the festivals dedicated here, especially Yamakasa.

07 / How to pray

How to pray

A common Shinto form of worship is to make an offering, bow twice, clap twice, pray silently, and finish with one bow. This is general etiquette, not a requirement to take part. Follow the shrine’s signs and staff guidance, leave space for worshippers, and respect any photography restrictions.

Goshuin books & Hakata-crafted amulets

After visiting the worship hall, you can ask for a goshuin—a shrine seal marking your visit—at the shrine office to the right of the main hall. The prefectural tourism guide lists original goshuin books with Yamakasa float embroidery and designs featuring niwaka senbei, a local confection. A book with a festival design can be a reminder of the float you have just seen in the grounds.

For an omamori, or protective amulet, look for the connection to local craft. The same guide features amulets made with Hakata-ori woven fabric and matchmaking amulets using Hakata-style mizuhiki decorative cords. They offer another way to notice Hakata’s craftsmanship, beyond the buildings and festival floats.

The shrine office hours are 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. These items were listed in the prefectural guide when checked on 22 September 2026; ask at the counter which designs are available and what offering is requested. We have not confirmed current stock, prices, or whether your goshuin will be written directly into a book or provided on a separate sheet.

08 / Festivals & events

Festivals & events

Yamakasa in July, Hakata Okunchi in autumn, and Setsubun in early February offer different reasons to visit. The descriptions below explain the annual traditions, not a confirmed schedule for a future year.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa · July

Hakata Gion Yamakasa runs from July 1 to 15. On July 15, teams carry their racing floats into the shrine precincts for the Kushida-iri before continuing through the streets. These carried floats differ from the tall decorative kazariyama displayed at the shrine. Check the festival organizer’s schedule before planning a festival visit.

Hakata Okunchi · October

The autumn festival includes a procession with an ox-drawn portable shrine. The prefectural tourism guide gives October 23 and 24 as its annual dates. Check the current programme for procession times and access arrangements.

Setsubun: a seasonal welcome

Ahead of Setsubun in early February, giant Otafuku masks are installed at the shrine gates. Passing through a smiling mouth is believed to bring good fortune. The masks are seasonal, not permanent: check the current year’s installation dates if they are the reason for your visit.

09 / Food nearby

A sweet stop after the shrine

Kushida Chaya beside the south gate is known for yakimochi: grilled rice cakes filled with sweet red bean paste. The prefectural tourism guide also recommends nearby Nakasu Zenzai for sweet red bean soup. Check shop opening times separately from shrine hours.

10 / Beyond the shrine

Beyond the shrine

The Hakata Machiya Folk Museum introduces local life and crafts near the shrine. Tochoji Temple, farther toward Gion Station, offers another stop on an old-town walk. Canal City Hakata is an option for shopping and a meal. Check each venue’s opening hours separately; visiting the shrine after dark does not mean its neighboring museums or temples will be open.

11 / Plan your visit

Plan Your Visit

Address: 1-41 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City. For shrine enquiries: +81 92-291-2951.

A simple route for a short visit

Start at the two-storey gate and look up at the zodiac compass. Continue to the kazariyama, then visit the worship hall. Look for the ginkgo and crane well around the grounds, and, if time allows, follow the vermilion torii to Shimekake Inari. Finish with a visit to the Hakata History Museum or yakimochi at Kushida Chaya beside the south gate. The float is usually not on display in June; check the museum’s opening days before you go.

How to get here

From Hakata Station, take the Nanakuma Line to Kushida Jinja-mae Station, then walk about 2 minutes to the shrine. On the Airport Line, Gion and Nakasu-Kawabata stations are each about a 6-minute walk away, according to the prefectural tourism guide. Walking times vary with the exit and route.

From Fukuoka Airport, use the Airport Line to Gion and continue on foot. Check the subway route and terminal access before departure; allow time for waiting, reaching the station, and walking to the shrine rather than treating train time as the whole journey.

Directions on Google Maps ↗

Hours & admission

Regular visiting hours are 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. The shrine office operates from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; these are separate from the grounds opening hours. Temporary construction, ceremonies, or access restrictions may change what you can see; check with the shrine before visiting.

Visiting the shrine grounds is free. The Hakata History Museum on the grounds charges separately: the Hakata ward guide lists admission at ¥300.

Cash & payment methods

We recommend bringing some Japanese yen if you plan to receive a goshuin (shrine stamp) or an omamori (amulet), or visit the Hakata History Museum. We have not confirmed whether these counters accept cards, transit IC cards, or QR-code payments. This is a suggestion to carry cash, not a statement that they are cash-only. Ask the shrine office about payment for stamps and amulets, and the museum about admission payment, if you need to use a particular method.

Where to leave your luggage

Visiting before check-in or after check-out? Consider leaving your suitcase at a station before exploring the shrine. Kushida Jinja-mae Station has lockers outside the ticket gates, including medium and large sizes. Subway lockers are accessible from the first to the last train, not around the clock. Check that your bag fits and note the collection time before leaving it.

If you arrive through Hakata Station, you can leave your bags there first. JR Hakata City’s locker guide shows locations and links to a vacancy map for station lockers. JR Kyushu also lists a temporary luggage-storage service at Hakata Station, with reception from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Check the operator’s current reception location, charges, and collection arrangements before using it; an available locker or storage space is not guaranteed.

Choose a base in Hakata

For this visit, consider the Hakata Station, Gion, or Nakasu-Kawabata areas. Choose according to your arrival route and other plans: the shrine can be one stop in a city itinerary, while Dazaifu Tenmangu makes a separate half-day outing.

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Sources checked 22 Sep 2026: VISIT FUKUOKA — sights, history, festivals, goshuin, amulets and hours; station access (Japanese); subway routes; Hakata ward — museum (Japanese); Rurubu — free grounds admission (Japanese). Museum holiday closures and photography restrictions checked 24 Sep 2026 against Fukuoka City tourism — Hakata History Museum (Japanese). Walking path geometry: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Latest festival information: Yamakasa organizer — current schedule (Japanese); Yamakasa event listing; Setsubun event listing; for Okunchi and other current arrangements, contact the shrine office (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.).
Luggage information (Japanese), checked 22 Sep 2026: Fukuoka City Subway — lockers and access hours; JR Hakata City — locker locations and vacancy map; JR Kyushu — temporary luggage storage at Hakata Station.

Questions & answers