Ami's Japan Travel Guides! Vol.1: Dazaifu, Fukuoka-ken

Hello, everybody (*^_^*)  It's been a long time since I introduced myself, hasn't it? They asked me if I wanted to write something for the website, so I thought I'd introduce one of my favorite places in Japan, Dazaifu. Dazaifu is about twenty minutes away from Fukuoka by train. It feels peaceful...I like to go on weekends when I'm feeling stressed-out. There are lot of special, little places where I can feel like being myself.

This is Tenmangu, a shrine to the god Tenjin. Tenjin is the god of students...like me, I guess ^_^ He was a famous scholar and poet, but he was exiled from the capital. When he died, there were lots of storms, and they thought he must be angry, so they made him a god. Every year, students come here to pray for good scores on their exams. Me? I like to remember what the samurai Miyamoto Musashi said: "I respect gods and buddhas, I don't rely on them." Fu, fu~

This bridge at Tenmangu has three parts. The first is a big arch, which represents all the hard things in your past you've gotten through. The second is flat, which represents the present, which is easy going. The third is a little arch, which means the last few little hard things you'll have to get through to get where you're going. I think that's very nice, don't you?

This is a famous "moss garden" at Komyozenji Temple in Dazaifu.

Kanzeonji is another famous temple in Dazaifu. It's very old, and mentioned in the Tale of Genji. Have you read the Tale of Genji? I tried, but it was very, very long... ;-_- There is a famous collection of Buddhist statues at Kanzeonji, and its bell is a national treasure.

Dazaifu is also famous for its traditional Japanese crafts, and its sweets, like dango dumplings, manju and chestnut ice cream. If you ever come to Fukuoka, I think you should pay it a visit. Maybe I'll see you there...(-^_^-) ーあみ(Ami)