Kushida Shrine

Shrine

Prefecture

Fukuoka

Type

Shrine

N/A

0 reviews

Free

Entry Fee

Free Entry Train Access

About This Destination

Hakata's central shrine and starting point of the famous Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, with a year-round decorated festival float on display.

Kushida Shrine is the most important shrine in the Hakata district of Fukuoka, affectionately called Okushida-san by locals. Founded in 757 AD, the shrine is the spiritual home of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, one of Japan's most exciting summer festivals held every July, where teams of men race through the streets carrying enormous decorated floats weighing over a ton. A large decorated yamakasa float is on permanent display in the shrine grounds year-round. The shrine is also known for its distinctive ginkgo tree, believed to be over 1,000 years old, and its collection of anchor stones from Mongol invasion ships. Located in the heart of the Kawabata shopping arcade area, it is a natural starting point for exploring Hakata's old town.

Location

Prefecture: Fukuoka

Address: Fukuoka, Japan

Nearest Station: Gion Station

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: No on-site dining. Kawabata shopping arcade adjacent to the shrine has numerous street food vendors and the nearby yatai stalls are famous.

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival?

Held July 1–15 annually, teams of men race through Hakata carrying enormous decorated floats weighing over a ton. The climax on July 15 (4:59 AM dawn race called 'Oiyama') sees seven floats race a 5 km course through the streets — broadcast nationally. Kushida Shrine is the festival's spiritual center and the official starting point. The festival is 770+ years old and registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Can I see a yamakasa float outside of festival season?

Yes — Kushida Shrine displays a magnificent ornamental kazariyama-style yamakasa float year-round in a special hall on the shrine grounds, free to view. The float is replaced each November with a newly built one, themed around classical legends or modern stories. You can see the intricate craftsmanship and 10+ meter height up close any time you visit. The Hakata Machiya Folk Museum next door has additional festival exhibits.

How do I get to Kushida Shrine?

Take the Fukuoka City Subway Kuko Line to Gion Station (Exit 2) and walk 5 minutes south (one stop from Hakata, 210 yen). Alternatively, it's a 15-minute walk from Hakata Station through the Kawabata shopping arcade. From Tenjin, walk 15 minutes east across the Naka River. The shrine sits at the heart of old Hakata and is open 24 hours, free to enter.

What's special to see beyond the yamakasa float?

Kushida Shrine has a 1,000-year-old ginkgo tree (designated a Natural Monument), Mongol invasion anchor stones (from the failed 1281 invasion), and the Reisen of Kushida (a sacred well — locals come to receive blessed water). The Setsubun festival on February 3 features Japan's largest 'lucky face' (Otafuku) gate to walk through. The shrine museum, accessible separately, holds historic festival treasures.