Umi Hachiman-gu Shrine near Hakata

Activity > Other Cities and Areas > Sightseeing > Fukuoka

On my performing journey I have arrived in Fukuoka... or, Hakata... or, is it Fukuoka? Well, you can use either or interchangeably. I had some extra time so after getting up late I took a look at things to do around Fukuoka and decided to head out to Umi Hachiman-gū Shrine.  Walked to Hakata station, the ticket cost 280 yen with one change, and in about an hour I was out in the sub-burbs of Fukuoka at a little station called "Umi" where Umi Hachiman-gū Shrine is.

Unfortunately the weather the past couple days has been... crappy! Rain and drizzle... drizzle... drizzle. After exiting the station I took a quick glance at the local map and easily found a marker (it was even in English) that directed me down the right path to Umi Hachiman-gū Shrine.  The "drizzle" started to get heavy and soon turned into a downpour... oh boy. 

It was about a 10 - 15 min. walk to Umi Hachiman-gū Shrine, very easy to find. I'm sure very few foreigners visit this shrine because it is "off the 'main' tourist beaten path" but it really is an old and magnificent shrine. Not only are the shrine's buildings very old and beautiful, there are about 4 really old camphor trees (a large evergreen tree that grows up to 20–30 meters high). 

Umi Hachiman-gū (宇美八幡宮) is a Shinto shrine and is dedicated to Emperor Ōjin (Empress Jingū's son and the 15th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.), Empress Jingū ( (神功天皇 a legendary Japanese empress who ruled beginning in the year 201), Tamayori-bime, Sumiyoshi sanjin and Izanagi.  Umi Hachiman-gū is the legendary place where Empress Jingū gave birth to the future Emperor Ōjin, and is still patroned by those praying for safe childbirth and smooth child rearing.

I spent about an hour at the shrine meandering about slowly and taking in all the sights before walking a bit up the road and then up a hill to a "2nd" part of the shrine which is just a little shrine in Umi Park.  From there I got a semi-decent view of the little town below.

I planned on grabbing some dinner in Hakata that evening but on my way back to the station I passed a "Soba" shop which looked really good... unfortunately... looks can be deceiving and it was just "average" and the price a little high.