Travel Themes
Four seasons of Fukuoka
Glittering Winter of Fukuoka
New Year’s Visit to the Shrines in Fukuoka
New Years are an important event for Japanese.
From around the midnight of New Year's eve to the 3rd of January, people go out with family or friends to visit a shrine and pray for the health and happiness through the year.
The most popular shrines in Fukuoka includes Sumiyoshi Shrine, Kushida Shrine and Hakozaki Shrine.
At Sumiyoshi Shrine, which is located within 10 minutes walk from JR Hakata Station, Fukumusume (literally means happiness girls) will draw a new year’s lottery and you may win a good-luck item.
Kushida Shrine is in a walking distance from the popular tourist spot, Canal City Hakata. It is dedicated to the god of business success and attracts many visitors on new year’s day. You can see the decorated float of Hakata Gion Yamakasa exhibited here on the shrine premises throughout the year.
Hakozakigu Shrine is loved by people as a shrine dedicated to the god of charm against bad luck and victory. Professional baseball and soccer teams of Fukuoka also visit here on the New Years holidays. From 1 pm on the 3rd of January, the famous ritual called Tamaseseri is also held at this shrine. The sight of guys in loincloths competing with each other to win a ball of good-fortune is surely worth seeing.
Three days from the 1st of January are public holidays in Japan and many shops will be closed. Please make a note of it is when you plan to visit the shrine and the surrounding areas.
| Open Hours |
Sumiyoshi Shrine --- 10 minutes walk from JR Hakata Station Hakataguchi Exit
Kushida Shrine --- 5 minutes walk from Gion Subway Station, 5 minutes from Nakasu-Kawabata Subway Station
Hakozakigu Shrine --- 5 minutes walk from JR Hakozaki Station, Adjacent to Hakozaki Miyamae Subway Station |
Related category of this facility
YokaNavi – Fukuoka Official Tourist Information Web Site
