Draw Unique Fortune Slips at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka

Dazaifu Tenmangu is located in Dazaifu, Fukuoka prefecture. Sugawara no Michizane, an eminent Japanese figure who lived in the 9th century, is enshrined here.

Sugawara no Michizane is also known as "Tenjin-sama", and venerated as the "god of scholarship" in Japan. Tenmangu is a shrine where Tenjin-sama is worshiped. There are about 12,000 of such shrines in Japan, and the Dazaifu Tenmangu is one of the prominent ones, boasting a rich history.

Many students visit this shrine to pray for good grades and success at entrance examinations.

At Dazaifu Tenmangu, visitors buy good-luck charms or dedicate ema (wooden wish plaques) to wish for good grades. But they should also venture to try the omikuji (fortune-telling papers), as this Tenmangu offers a very unique kind.

This article will introduce three types of omikuji you should draw at Dazaifu Tenmangu.

1. The Cute, Vividly-Colored Usodori Mikuji

This is our number one recommendation - the usodori mikuji, priced at 300 yen.

Usodori is said to be the guardian of Tenjin-sama (Suagawara no Michizane), a bird that improves people's fortunes and brings them happiness. A regular omikuji is a piece of folded paper.

However, the usodori omikuji is a wooden tube, with the paper inside. This is a rare type of omikuji, so we drew one.

The usodori bird is portrayed on the outside, with vivid colors.

Pull the string sticking out from the bottom, and the paper comes out.

2. The Colorful Omikuji

Most shrines use white paper, but Dazaifu Tenmangu prints their omikuji on papers of various colors.

At the booth near the main shrine, yellow omikuji are sold.

Blue omikuji are sold near the three bridges leading to the main shrine. There is a number of places to draw omikuji on the shrine grounds, and their colors are different according to where they are sold. Whatever the color, this omikuji is uniformly priced at 100 yen.

3. Kamado Jinja Mikuji

There is another famous shrine in Dazaifu City, named Kamado Jinja. Visitors can draw the special Kamado Jinja omikuji at Dazaifu Tenmangu.

This is the Kamado Jinja mikuji, priced at 100 yen. A regular omikuji is randomly drawn from a box, but the Kamado Jinja mikuji is determined by the visitors' year and month of birth.

The eto (the animal sign of the zodiac corresponding to each year) is written on the top of the board. First, check the animal symbol according to your year of birth.

Then check the month of birth, which is written on the left side. The omikuji of your year (eto) and month is the one that you should draw.

While Dazaifu Tenmangu is famous for answering prayers of visitors wishing for better grades, it is also a shrine to enjoy unique types of omikuji. If you have the chance to visit this shrine dedicated to the god of scholarship, give these omikuji a try!

Information

Dazaifu Tenmangu
Address: Fukuoka, Dazaifu, Saifu 4-7-1
Business Hours:
The gate opens at 6:30 a.m.*
*From Vernal Equinox Day to the day before Autumnal Equinox Day, the gate opens at 6:00 a.m.
From June 1 to August 31 the gate closes at 8:30 p.m.
From September 1 to May 31 the gate closes at 7:00 p.m.
From January 1 to 3 the gate will be open 24 hours.
Fixed Holidays: There are no fixed holidays.
Wi-Fi: Not Available
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Language: -
Menus/Pamphlets in Other Languages: English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean
Nearest Station: Nishitetsu Dazaifu Station
Access: 5-minutes walk from Dazaifu Station.
Admission: -
Religion: Shinto
Telephone Number: +92-922-8225
Website: Dazaifu Tenmangu