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Thursday, September 18, 2025

Visiting Kushida Shrine: Hakata’s Home of Yamakasa

Kushida Shrine (櫛田神社)

During our trip to Hakata last year, my husband and I stayed at the ANA Crowne Plaza Fukuoka—a familiar base for those who've followed my previous adventures. With several shrines nestled within walking distance of JR Hakata Station, I made sure our itinerary included a few spiritual stops.

Sumiyoshi Shrine (住吉神社): Just an 8-minute walk from JR Hakata Station
Railway Shrine (鉄道神社): Quietly perched on the rooftop of JR Hakata Station
Kushida Shrine (櫛田神社): Around a 20-minute walk from JR Hakata Station or a brisk 8 minutes from Gion Subway Station

This time, we set our sights on Kushida Shrine (櫛田神社)—a cultural gem with roots deep in Hakata’s identity. It’s just a 7-minute walk from Canal City Hakata (キャナルシティ博多), making it easy to pair a spiritual pause with retail wandering. We took a scenic 14-minute walk from ACROS Fukuoka, passing city rhythms that slowly gave way to something quieter, more sacred.

Kushida Shrine (櫛田神社)
1-41 Kamikawabatamachi
Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City
Fukuoka, Japan

Kushida Shrine (櫛田神社)

Founded in 757 CE, Kushida Shrine (櫛田神社) stands as one of Fukuoka’s oldest and most beloved shrines. Revered as the guardian of Hakata, it’s not just a spiritual landmark—it’s the beating heart of one of Japan’s most dynamic summer traditions: the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival (博多祇園山笠).

Yamakasa Festival Float (飾り山笠)

Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival (博多祇園山笠) is a Japanese festival celebrated from the 1st until the 15th of July in Hakata, Fukuoka. The festivities are centered on the Kushida Shrine. Decorative Yamakasa floats are themed around Hakata's samurai, old Japanese stories, and even anime. They’re rebuilt every year on July 1st, and you can see them at the shrine all year. Take a moment to enjoy how big and detailed they are—it’s really impressive.

Yamakasa Festival Float (飾り山笠)

Ema (絵馬)

At Kushida Shrine, I came across a vibrant display of ema (絵馬)—wooden prayer plaques adorned with wishes, drawings, and a glimpse of heartfelt hopes.

Matsusha (末社)

Komainu (狛犬)

I saw this komainu (狛犬) statue at Kushida Shrine. It looks strong and protects the shrine.

Komainu (狛犬)

Shimekakeinari Shrine (注連懸稲荷神社)

Inari shrines are dedicated to Inari Ōkami, a Shinto deity linked to rice, agriculture, prosperity, and household well-being. With over 30,000 Inari shrines across Japan, they’re the most common type of shrine in the country. At Shimekakeinari Shrine (注連懸稲荷神社), rows of red torii gates stretch ahead, making the path feel calm and special.

Stone Fox Statue at Inari Shrine

Foxes are messengers of the god Inari. That’s why you’ll often see stone fox statues at these shrines. People dress them in red cloth to keep away bad spirits. Some foxes even hold keys or scrolls—they’re seen as smart and magical.

Stone Fox Statue at Inari Shrine

Honden (本殿)

The honden (main hall, 本殿), worship hall (拝殿), of Kushida Shrine was rebuilt in 1863 (Bunkyū 3) and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government. At the honden, I spotted a shimenawa (注連縄)—a thick, twisted rope that marks sacred space in Shinto tradition. It’s used to show the boundary between the divine and the everyday, and it helps keep away bad energy. You’ll often see these ropes hanging at shrine entrances, on sacred trees, or around important buildings like the honden. Seeing one up close really highlights the quiet strength and purity that defines the atmosphere of Kushida Shrine.

Goshin-gyū (御神牛)

This bronze cow statue is said to bring good luck with money when you touch it. It’s also known as a Goshin-gyū, or sacred cow.

Romon (楼門)

Kushida Shrine’s main gate (Romon) was rebuilt back in 1859 and is now recognized as an Important Cultural Property in Japan.

The Zodiac Compass, Eto Eho-ban (干支恵方盤) at Main Gate (Romon)

At Kushida Shrine, there’s a special zodiac wheel hidden in the gate’s ceiling. It quietly points to this year’s lucky direction—worth glancing up before you step through.