Fukuoka

Plum Blossoms at Dazaifu

Fukuoka's famous shrine heralds the start of spring

Mandy Bartok Feb 18, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Plum blossoms outside the main hall of Dazaifu Tenmangu</p>

<p>A plum tree pruned in the bonsai style</p>

<p>Weeping plum trees surround the shrine's pond</p>

<p>Most of the plum trees sport pink petals but the occasional white-petaled tree can be found</p>

<p>Plum blossoms against the shrine's main gate</p>

<p>One of the darker shades of plum blossoms on the shrine's grounds </p>

Notice

The shrine's honden (main hall) will undergo major renovation from May 2023 to 2026. During this period, the shrine will set up a unique temporary hall in front of the honden. This one-story building will feature trees and grass on the roof to harmonize with the encircling environment.

Latest on Dazaifu Tenmangu

Dazaifu Tenmangu is one of Fukuoka's most famous shrines. Dedicated to the spirit of famed scholar and former court official Sugawara Michizane, the grounds of the shrine are covered in plum trees. Every year around mid-February, the first sign of spring - in the form of dark pink, white and wine-red petals - appear on the shrine's plum trees. A festival featuring a bonsai exhibit, street food and copious amounts of plum wine usually takes place around the third or fourth weekend in February.