Kushida Shrine (Kushida Jinja) is the guardian shrine of Hakata, the old merchant half of Fukuoka. Founded, according to tradition, in 757, it sits in the heart of the city between Canal City and the Kawabata shopping arcade, and is the home of the famous Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival every July.
Even outside festival season you can see one of the towering decorated floats on display, making it one of the most rewarding quick stops in Fukuoka.
Plan your visit to Kushida Shrine
- Entry: free
- Grounds open daily, early morning to evening
- Allow 20–40 minutes
History of Kushida Shrine
Tradition dates the shrine to 757. It enshrines Ohatanushi-no-Mikoto (also called Kushida-no-Okami), along with Amaterasu and Susanoo, and has long been revered by the people of Hakata as their protector and the patron of business and long life.
The Hakata Gion Yamakasa, held from 1 to 15 July, has more than 700 years of history and is dedicated to the shrine. In 2016 it was inscribed by UNESCO as part of the “Yama, Hoko, Yatai” float festivals of Japan.
Attractions at Kushida Shrine
- Kazari Yamakasa: a decorated float more than 10 metres tall, with elaborate doll scenes, displayed at the shrine for most of the year.
- Main hall and gates: traditional shrine buildings in the middle of the city.
- Sacred ginkgo: a huge, centuries-old ginkgo tree in the grounds, golden in late autumn.
- Sacred spring: a well whose water is associated with long life.
- Chikara-ishi: historic strength stones once lifted by local men.
- Zodiac wheel: a large Chinese zodiac (eto) board above the gate, a popular photo spot.
Things to Do at Kushida Shrine
- See the float: the Kazari Yamakasa shows how big and detailed the festival floats are.
- Visit during the Yamakasa (1–15 July): the climax is the Oiyama race at dawn on 15 July, when teams run carrying their floats through Hakata.
- Buy a charm: the shrine sells omamori for business success and health.
- Explore old Hakata: combine the shrine with the Kawabata arcade and the temples nearby.
Kushida Shrine – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Grounds: open daily from early morning to evening; free entry
- Shrine office: daytime hours for charms and goshuin stamps
- Festival days: expect very large crowds from 1 to 15 July
How Long to Spend at Kushida Shrine
Allow 20 to 40 minutes for the shrine, or 1.5 to 2 hours if you also visit the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum and the Kawabata arcade.
How to Get There
- Subway: Kuko Line to Gion Station (one stop from Hakata), then about a 5-minute walk; or Nakasu-Kawabata Station, about 5 minutes on foot through the Kawabata arcade.
- Walk: about 15 minutes from Hakata Station, or a few minutes from Canal City Hakata.
Arriving at Fukuoka Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your hotel.
Eateries Nearby Kushida Shrine
- Kawabata shopping arcade: a traditional covered arcade next to the shrine, with small cafes and sweet shops.
- Nakasu yatai: Fukuoka’s famous open-air food stalls along the river in the evening, serving ramen, yakitori and oden.
- Hakata ramen: many tonkotsu ramen shops around Gion, Canal City and Hakata Station.
Other Attractions Nearby Kushida Shrine
- Canal City Hakata: a huge shopping and entertainment complex a few minutes’ walk away.
- Hakata Machiya Folk Museum: displays on Hakata crafts, traditions and the Yamakasa, across the road from the shrine.
- Tochoji Temple: home to one of Japan’s largest wooden seated Buddhas, near Gion Station.
- Fukuoka Asian Art Museum: contemporary Asian art in Hakata Riverain, near Nakasu-Kawabata.
- Dazaifu Tenmangu: Kyushu’s famous shrine of learning, a short train trip south.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Fukuoka: Hakata and Nakasu are within walking distance of the shrine.
- Get a Japan eSIM before you land, for maps and train apps.
Kushida Shrine is the spiritual heart of Hakata, and its giant decorated float makes it easy to imagine the excitement of the Yamakasa festival even if you visit outside July.
It is just a short walk from Canal City Hakata and the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, so it fits easily into a day in central Fukuoka.
