Dazaifu is a small town 18km southeast of Fukuoka, Japan. While the town was the administrative centre in the 7th century for Kyushu for over 500 years, today, the city attracts millions of visitors to the famous Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, where people (especially students) pray for good luck for their exams.
A Dazaifu day trip is one of the most popular day trips from Fukuoka City. As much as I love being in cities, I also love seeing the quiet countryside. I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day in Dazaifu to see historical temples and monuments, eat excellent food, and have the opportunity to hike up a mountain to see an unobstructed view of Dazaifu, Japan.
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Dazaifu day trip: what you need to know
Before you take a day trip to Dazaifu, take a look at my post on everything you need to know before going to Japan. I included a lot of information including how to get around Japan and other travel tips.
Here are additional travel tips that you may find useful for spending the day in Dazaifu:
- SUGOCA is the prepaid IC card for Kyushu Island. It is a rechargeable smartcard where you can take public transportation including bus, train and etc. It is useful to have especially if you are taking a day trip from Fukuoka.
- You can see all the attractions in Dazaifu in one day
- Dazaifu is a small town and it is best to explore on foot.
How to travel from Fukuoka to Dazaifu
There are two ways to travel from Fukuoka to Dazaifu. But the most efficient and cheapest way is by taking the Nishitetsu Railway.
Nishitetsu Railway
- From Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station to Dazaifu Station (transfer at Nishitetsu-Futsukaichi Station)
- Time: 24 minutes
- Cost: about ¥410 (IC card is accepted)
- Check Hyperdia for schedules and fares.
Dazaifu Liner Bus “Tabito”
- From Hakata Bus Centre to Dazaifu Station
- Time: 40 minutes (every 20 to 30 minutes)
Map: Dazaifu attractions
Planning a Dazaifu day trip is easy, especially when following my guide. Take a look at my one-day Dazaifu itinerary below.
All the places mentioned are pinned on the interactive map. You can find more information about each attraction by clicking on the individual pin.
Dazaifu itinerary: top things to do in Dazaifu in 1 day
1. Stroll through the main shopping street, Tenjinsama-dori
As soon as you exit Dazaifu Station, you will see Tenjinsama-dori, the main shopping street in Dazaifu. The road is lined with retail stores and cafes on both sides of the street.
Vendors sell unique Japanese souvenir items, including the most popular Dazaifu souvenir, Omegae mochi, rice cake with red bean paste. You can buy one now or later at the end of the day.
Also, there is an Information Centre at the end of the shopping street. If you want to pick up a map or ask questions before you start your day in Dazaifu, this is the place to do it.
2. Visit an ultra-modern Dazaifu Starbucks
Designed by architects Kengo Kuma and Associates, the ultra-modern Starbucks in Dazaifu sits next to traditional Japanese houses along the main shopping street.
You will find over 2000 wood batons interwoven into a lattice pattern covering the walls and ceilings. The wooden structure extends all the way to the entrance as well.
If you love the juxtaposition of modern design and traditional Japanese elements, then you must visit the Starbucks in Dazaifu. I normally like to visit local coffee shops and not visit any franchised stores, but the Dazaifu Starbucks is unique and is totally worth visiting.
3. Enjoy the zen gardens of Komyozen-ji Temple
Komoyozen-ji Temple is famous for its two rock gardens where each one is different from another.
The front garden is smaller and has 15 rocks placed in the garden. The placement of the stones forms the Japanese character for “light.” The rear garden has mossy patches of greenery placed strategically around the pebbles and stones, where the entire composition represents a large piece of land and bodies of water.
Enjoy the zen gardens for just ¥200.
4. Pray and get a blessing at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
As one of Kyushu’s most historical temples, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine attracts over 2 million visitors annually. The shrine is dedicated to the memory of Sugawara Michizane, a brilliant scholar from Kyoto associated with the Shinto god of learning.
Students from all over Japan visit the Dazaifu temple to pray and get a blessing. They pray they will pass their exams because the shrine is known as “the God of Examination.”
The temple premise is over 250 meters long. It has a torii gate, a pond in the shape of the Japanese word for “heart” and over 6,000 ume (plum) trees, which is Sugawara Michizane’s favourite tree.
If you want to take some good fortune with you, buy a good luck charm at the shop at Daizafu Tenmangu Shrine before you leave!
5. Learn Japanese history at Kyushu National Museum
Opened in 2005, Kyushu National Museum is the 4th national museum in Japan after Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara.
The modern contemporary building exterior resembles a sports stadium. The modernity of the architecture is strikingly different from the rest of the traditional design in Dazaifu.
The spacious main hall has a restaurant, cafe, an ajippa (interactive exhibition gallery), and a museum shop. And you might even see a giant yamakasa float on the ground level, used for float-racing during the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival.
Go to the 4th floor to see the Cultural Exchange Exhibit, which is the museum’s permanent collection on artifacts between the Old Stone Age to Edo Period. The exhibit has many displays emphasizing the relationship between Japan and Asia. The collection is extensive, so leave yourself some time to review all the displays.
Admission for the permanent exhibit is ¥430.
6. Indulge in a kaiseki tofu lunch at Ume no Hana
As a solo traveller, I don’t always splurge on food. But I made an exception for Ume no Hana, and it wasn’t that expensive for something unique and original.
The little restaurant is tucked away in Dazaifu in a traditional Japanese house. It is a famous kaiseki restaurant (a traditional Japanese cuisine style with many small dishes prepared and served) serving the best tofu dishes.
I ordered the mid-range set menu, which has over ten tofu dishes. I didn’t think making tofu in so many ways was possible.
While the food is something I still remember so vividly, I really enjoyed sitting in a private room with a traditional Japanese interior to enjoy the special meal.
If you want to experience a traditional kaiseki vegetarian meal, then make sure you try Ume no Hana. It was well worth ¥4,000+ for the entire experience.
7. See a panoramic view of Dazaifu from Iwaya Castle Ruins
There was a massive samurai battle between Takahashi Joun and his 763 warriors against the army of Shimazu Yoshihisa of Satsuma and his 50,000 soldiers in 1586 at Iwaya Castle on Mount Shioji.
Today, the castle ground only has remnants of the castle and a gorgeous panoramic view of Dazaifu City.
It is possible to walk up to Iwaya Castle Ruins from Dazaifu. Take in the view of Dazaifu and even southern Fukuoka City.
9. Try Umegae mochi (red bean rice cake), a local specialty
Before you jump back on the train and return to Fukuoka, return to Tenjinsama-dori, the main shopping street, and look for a local snack called Umegae mochi. It is a grilled rice cake with sweet red bean paste inside. The rice cake is slightly crispy outside while the filling is quite sweet.
You can either go to one of the shops along the shopping street and try one on the spot or order one at a teahouse. You can even watch them make the rice cake at the store. Buy one to eat immediately and some for all your loved ones back home.
Where to stay in Dazaifu
Visiting all the sites in Dazaifu comfortably in one day is possible. And because accommodation in Fukuoka is very affordable, there really is no need to stay overnight in Dazaifu.
But if you want to explore rural Kyushu, there are a handful of accommodations, including hostels, guest houses, and hotels.
Hostels, guest houses & hotels
From my experience, Agoda is one of the best sites for booking hotels, guesthouses, and hostels. I’ve never had any issues with my bookings.
The website has a huge database of accommodations available in Japan, including a few options for Dazaifu.
Are you ready to take a day trip to Dazaifu?
There are many things to do in Fukuoka and one of them is to take a day trip to Dazaifu. It is one of the best Fukuoka day trips and it is only 24 minutes away from the city. I highly recommend seeing the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and also treating yourself to a unique tofu kaiseki meal at Ume no Hana.
Let me know in the comments if you are visiting Dazaifu or if you have any questions about this Fukuoka day trip.
Thank you for reading my Dazaifu itinerary post
You might also like these other posts on solo travel in Japan:
Introduction to Japan
- Solo Travel to Japan: 17 best cities for solo travellers
- Things I wish I knew before going to Japan
- 11 Off-the-beaten-path places in Japan
- Japanese Food Culture: 11 must-try food
- One month in Japan: from Tokyo to Hiroshima
Kyushu region
- 10-day Kyushu Island itinerary
- 25 Best things to do in Fukuoka Japan
- Kumamoto City in one day
- Day trip to Mount Aso from Kumamoto
- 11 Top things to do in Kagoshima Japan
- 1-5 day Okinawa itinerary without a car
- Where to stay in Naha Okinawa: 6 boutique hotels
- Okinawa food guide: 26 best food
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