The Roof Garden

Last month I posted about part of my summer trip when I visited the port town of Yobuko. During the same trip I also spent some time in Fukuoka. One of the places I visited was Dazaifu. We went to Dazaifu Tenmangu, the famous shrine in the town. But what I found when I got there was surprising.

Currently the shrine is under renovation for the first time in 124 years and a temporary shrine has been set up. The temporary shrine’s design is more modern than a traditional one, however this is not its most surprising feature. On the roof of the shrine is a garden full of many kinds of plants, including plum trees from the surrounding area. It is said that it changes with the seasons, which causes it to change its appearance throughout the year.

I have seen a few unique and non-traditional shrines around Japan. But I had never seen one like this before. It was very beautiful to look at. It is a shame that it will be only temporary. I think it’s worth visiting before the original shrine is restored. The area around the shrine is also very pretty and has many great photo spots. There is a smaller Shinto shrine on top of the mountain called ‘Kamado shrine’. It has become very popular with fans of the anime / manga series ‘Demon Slayer’ since it shares its name with the protagonist of the story. There is also a shopping street full of many interesting shops leading up to the shrine grounds.

Dazaifu is a nice place to check out if you are ever in Fukuoka. You can train or bus there from Hakata, and it is easy to do within a few hours.