Kushida Shrine
Kushida Shrine, The Shrine Of Hakata In Fukuoka, Home Of The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, With The Huge Festival Float On Show All Year, An Old Gingko Tree And A Lane Of The Old Merchant District. A Short Visit In The Centre Of The City. · Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Kushida Shrine is the shrine of Hakata, the old merchant side of Fukuoka, and the heart of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival. The festival runs from 1 to 15 July, and its climax is the dawn race on the 15th, around 4:59 in the morning - confirm - when teams of men in loincloths race huge decorated floats through the streets. You do not need to be there in July to feel it: a large Yamakasa float stands in the grounds all year, decorated with dolls and gold detail. There is also an old ginkgo tree said to be about 1,000 years old, a small museum on the festival, and a calm main hall. It is a short visit, usually 30 to 60 minutes, set in the middle of the city. Combine it with the old streets nearby, including the Hakata Old Town area and the Kawabata shopping arcade. Entry is free. It is worth a stop if you are already in Hakata; it is not a big complex, and it is crowded in the festival weeks.
1-41 Kamikawabata-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, a short walk from Gion Station or Nakasu-Kawabata on the subway, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
The shrine grounds are commonly open from early morning to evening and cost nothing to enter; confirm hours for the festival museum and the gate, because they can close earlier than the grounds and may close on one weekday. The main hall area is usually most pleasant before 17:00. From Fukuoka's Gion Station on the subway it is a few minutes on foot, or a short walk from Nakasu-Kawabata Station. IC cards work for the subway; bring coins for offerings and small purchases. Festival weeks (1 to 15 July) bring crowds and street closures, so check dates and plan early arrival - confirm the schedule for any race or float event you want to see. Nothing needs booking.