Dazaifu Tenmangu Garden

Dazaifu Tenmangu garden is the strolling garden in shrine definition precinct.There are three bridges in the middle of the pond and people cross each bridge to visit shrine.After visiting shrine, we enjoy the strolling the garden, plum garden, and iris pond garden.It is stunning view that vermilion color of the bridges is in contrast with green of the leaves, besides white and pink color of plum blossom which surround the pond.

The meaning of three bridges

The bow bridge is connected to the flat bridge and the bow bridge again that is regarded as the way to “Past”, ”Present” and,”Future”. This garden structures idea is from the basis of buddhism thought to purify the visitor’s life.

A special type of pond construction

There is a special type of pond construction called “Shinji-ike pond”. The island and the three stones around it represent Chinese character shape ”心” called “Kokoro” .This character means “hart and mind” created in the garden as a symbol that clear the visitor’s mind.This type of pond is built in park and temples all over Japan besides this Dazaifu Tenmangu garden.

Main shrine area

After going through the two-story gate, A small stone bow bridge and sitting cow statue, the god’s messenger of Dazaifu Tenmangu, are in the shrine’s area.”Crossing the bow bridge” means  to go to a sacred place where god is.

The importance of plum tree

Beautiful pink plum blossoms are in front of main shrine.Plum blossoms is a Tenmangu shrine crest and many plum tree are planted because Sugawarano Michzane who is enshrined at Dazaifu tenmangu like plum blossom.

The Birth month flowers

※The time when the flowers bloom varies slightly depending on the year.

Late January – Early March	Plum blossom
Middle April – Early May	Azaleas
Middle May -Late June	Iris
June	Hydrangea
Late November – Middle December	Autumn leaves

Information

<Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine>

Opening time
・From March 20th(Shyunbun-day) to September 23th(Shyubun-day)
at 6:00

・Other days
at 6:30

Closing time
・In April, May, September, November
at 19:00

・In June, July, August
at 19:30

・In December, January, February, March
at 18:30

※New year event
Open all night in December 31
24hours from January 1st to 3rd

Regular holiday
The garden is opened to the public all year.

Admission
free

Address
4 Chome-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka 818 – 0117

Link and Resources

Dazaifu Tenmangu official website (En)

Other Japanese garden around Dazaifu
Daimaru Besso