Miyajidake Shrine

Miyajidake Shrine is a shrine in Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is a very popular shrine, drawing about 2.2 million worshippers each year. Recently it has become famous as a place where you can witness a “miracle moment”: the approach road leads straight to the sea, and the setting sun aligns with the approach and shines like a “Path of Light,” with Ainoshima visible offshore. This view can be seen only in February and October, and many tourists visit especially during those times. Around the same season, the shrine holds a “phantom dance,” which is also worth seeing. Miyajidake Shrine is said to be a shrine for good fortune and victory in all things, and it boasts three “Japan’s largest” items: a large bell (450 kg), a giant taiko drum (2.2 m in diameter), and a huge shimenawa rope (11 m long). There are also the Okunomiya Eight Shrines that can be toured in about 30 minutes, making it full of highlights. Along the approach, “Matsugae-mochi” is a popular snack for eating while walking. Seasonal flowers bloom within the shrine grounds, and you can enjoy an atmospheric Japanese garden. Access is about a 5-minute bus ride from JR Fukuma Station. Many shops line the approach, making it a very popular tourist spot.