Miyajidake Shrine is a shrine found in Fukutsu, Fukuoka, between Fukuoka City and Northern Kyushu. With over 1,700 years of history since its establishment, Miyajidake Shrine enshrines a deity that is said to bring about good fortune and better business. The shrine sees over 2,200,000 people visit the shrine each year. During February and October each year, the "Road of Light" appears from the shrine to the Genkai Sea. This otherwordly sight was made known through a commercial and has since seen many sightseers visit from around Japan.
1700 Years of History - The God of Good Fortune and Better Business
Miyajidake Shrine has a long line of history, over 1700 years in fact. There are festivals for the following gods: okinagara tarashihimeno mikoto, jingu kougou, katsumurano ookami, katsuyorino ookami.
The deity is believed to be able to "Win over everything" and is the main god for the Miyajidake Shrine nationwide.
Within Miyajidake Shrine you'll find gigantic ancient burial mounds from over 300 years ago. These ancient burial mounds were said to have been erected during the 6th century, and are the largest collection of stone burial chambers across the whole of Japan. From these stone burial chambers, over 300 artifacts were found, 20 of which were designated as national treasures.
Within these are golden dragons and tigers, a traditional cap worn by Shinto clergy and courtiers made of gold, a kabutsuchi ornamented in gold, a 3.2-meter large sword, and many more golden items. This is why the god of this shrine was recognized as one that brings about better business.
Miyajidake Shrine's 3 "#1 in Japan"
Miyajidake Shrine has 3 of Japan's #1, let's take a look at them.
The first is Japan's largest coiled rope (Ooshimenawa) that is found in front of the shrine, it has a radius of 2.6 meters and a length of 11 meters. It was made by taking straw from the 1980-meter-long omita (A paddy field owned by the shrine) and weaving it. There are over 1,500 volunteers who work with the shrine to build this amazing coiled rope.
The second thing the shrine has which is #1 in Japan is the large drum with a radius of 2.2 meters. The large drum has been made with Japanese materials only and is said to be the largest in the entire country. The base of the drum is made from Japanese cypress, with the surface being several layers deep. The drum itself uses cowhide which has been tanned specifically for the purpose of being hit repeatidly.
The 3rd and final is a huge 450-kilogram copper bell. It was previously displayed alongside the humungous coiled rope but is now found within its own enclosure.
See the "Road of Light" in February and October
The "Road of Light" was originally made known nationwide thanks to a commercial from the idol group "Arashi".
You're able to see the road of light during the end of February and the end of October. This is the only time during the year where you're able to see the Genkai Sea from the shrine, as well as Ainoshima which is just beyond.
During the road of light in October, an event known as the Tsukushi Dance will take place. There are 2 different dances that take place during this time, the Tsukushi Kanmai, and the Yaotome Mai.
Enjoying the Approach
During the approach to the shrine, there are some things you cannot afford to try, one of these is the matsugae mochi which can be found at various shops along the strip! There are 2 variations, "Japanese mugwort" and "White". There may be more variations depending on the store, so make sure to try as many as you can find!
Many of the shops here also sell souvenirs and good luck charms that are said to bring about good fortune in business, so it could be a great idea to buy one and take it home with you!
How to Get to Miyajidake Shrine
- Using the Railway：Debark at JR Fukuma Station - 5 minutes via taxi, 25 minutes walking, or take the Nishitetsu Express Bus Service from in front of the station
- Using the Highway：Head towards Fukuoka getting off at Kyushu Expressway Koga Interchange
: Head towards North Kyushu getting off at Kyushu Expressway Wakamiya Interchange - Using Public Highway：50-minutes on National Route 3 from Fukuoka, Tenjin
: 70-minutes on National Route 3 from North Kyushu, Koga
How did you find this article? We've learned about the god of good fortune and better business, and even the "Road of Light" which can only be seen twice a year and was made famous by an idol group's commercial! How about planning your next visit to Japan during either February or October to see this amazing sight for yourself?
Comments