Things to Do in Dazaifu in One Day: Itinerary from Fukuoka

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.

And Dazaifu is one of the best day trip destinations 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 hike up a mountain to see an unobstructed view of Dazaifu, Japan.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through them, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost. Thank you for supporting this website. For more information, please read the disclosure for more info.

Travel Tips for Travelling to Dazaifu Japan

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.
Plan your visit to Dazaifu with the following festivals and events:
- Bullfinch Exchange Festival (January) – a traditional Shinto ritual where people exchange wooden carvings of bullfinch (red chested songbird) which is associated with good fortune and warding off evil.
- Summer Tenjin Festival (July 24 & 25) – celebrate the birth of Sugawara Michizane with rituals, activities and yukata dance at Dazaifu Tenmangu.

How to get to Dazaifu from Fukuoka

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

Nishitetsu Railway has trains connecting Fukuoka and Dazaifu. Take the Tenjin-Omuta Line from Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station to Dazaifu Station (transfer at Nishitetsu-Futsukaichi Station). The journey takes 30 minutes and costs ¥420 (IC card is accepted).

Dazaifu Liner Bus “Tabito”

Alternatively, you can take the Dazaifu Liner Bus “Tabito” from either Hakata Bus Terminal (40 minutes; ¥700) or Fukuoka Airport (25 minutes; ¥600) to Dazaifu.

Dazaifu Attractions: Itinerary Summary & Map

Dazaifu is a small walkable town and you can see everything in one day. Here is a quick summary of all the attractions on your day trip:

Tenjinsama-dori
Dazaifu Starbucks
Komyozenji Temple
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
Kyushu National Museum
Kaiseki Tofu Lunch at Dazaifu Besso Shizenan
Iwaya Castle Ruins
Try local Dazaifu sweet treats

Below is an interactive map highlighting all the key attractions of my Dazaifu itinerary. Red pins indicate the must-see attractions in Dazaifu that are part of a one-day itinerary.

Dazaifu Itinerary: Top Things to Do in Dazaifu in 1 Day

1. Dazaifu Shopping Street aka 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. 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.

There are 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 take a look at this Starbucks. 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.

Address: 3 Chome-2-43 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka | Hours: 8am-8pm

3. Komyozenji Temple

Founded in 1273, Komoyozenji Temple is a zen temple famous for its two rock gardens where each one is different from another.

The front garden is smaller and has stones placements in the form of the Japanese character for “light”, while the rear garden has mossy patches of greenery placed strategically around the pebbles and stones.

Fall is particularly beautiful time of the year to visit Komoyozenji Temple. But the zen garden is also worth visiting all year round.

Address: 2 Chome-16-1 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka | Hours: 8am-5pm | Admission: ¥200

4. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

As one of Kyushu’s most historical temples, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine attracts over ten million visitors annually. The Shinto 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. After visiting the shrine, hike up to Tenkai Inari Shrine, rub the Divine Bull Statue for luck, see Shinjiike Lake (a pond in the shape of the Japanese word for “heart”) and admire 6,000+ ume (plum) trees, which is Sugawara Michizane’s favourite tree.

Top: Fifth Torii; Middle: Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine; Bottom Left: Stairs at the back; Bottom Right: Tenkai Inari Shrine

Address: 4 Chome-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka | Hours: 6:30am-7:30pm | Admission: free

5. Kyushu National Museum

Follow the Rainbow Tunnel from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine to Kyushu National Museum. It is the 4th national museum in Japan after Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara.

Opened in 2005, 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.

You can spend a lot of time at the museum learning about the history of Japan (and specifically to Kyushu) through the permanent and temporary collections artwork and artifacts.

There is also a restaurant, cafe, an interactive exhibition gallery, and a museum shop in the spacious main hall. And you might even see a giant yamakasa float on the ground level, used for float-racing during the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in Fukuoka.

Address: 4 Chome-7-2 Ishizaka, Dazaifu, Fukuoka | Hours: 9:30am-5pm; closed Mondays | Admission: ¥700

6. Kaiseki Tofu Lunch at Dazaifu Besso Shizenan

As a solo traveller, I don’t always splurge on food. But I made an exception for Dazaifu Besso Shizenan, and it wasn’t that expensive for something so 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. It was well worth ¥4,000+ for the entire experience.

Left: Private room at Dazaifu Besso Shizenan; Right: Kaiseki tofu lunch

Address: 4 Chome−4−41 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka | Hours: 11am-9pm

7. 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.

If you still have the energy and want to see a viewpoint, it is possible to walk up to Iwaya Castle Ruins from Dazaifu. From the top, you can see a view of Dazaifu and even southern Fukuoka City.

Address: 704 Kanzeonji, Dazaifu, Fukuoka | Hours: 24 hours

9. Try local Dazaifu sweet treats

Before you jump back on the train for Fukuoka, walk back to Tenjinsama-dori, the Dazaifu 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 mildly sweet.

Many shops on the main shopping street offer this sweet treat. Try it at one of the stores or at a teahouse. You can even watch them make the rice cake at the store.

Is Dazaifu worth visiting as a Day Trip?

I definitely think so! Even though there are many things to do in Fukuoka, you can easily take a half or full day trip to Daizafu and see the famous shrine and see what rural Kyushu is like.

Just a word of caution, Dazaifu can be very busy as it is the most popular day trip from Fukuoka. Go on a weekday if you can so you can avoid the weekend crowd.

Would you visit Dazaifu? Let me know in the comments. Also if there’s something missing from this itinerary, let me know as well.

Ready to plan your trip to Japan? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best Japan accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance and set up your mobile phone before arriving in Japan.
* Join tours: check Klook or Get Your Guide for the best tours around Japan.

Thank you for reading my Dazaifu itinerary

I have many posts on Japan and you might also like these other posts on solo travel in Japan:

Introduction to Japan

Kyushu region

Like this post? Pin it on your Pinterest board!

queenie mak

Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!