DAZAIFU

Dazaifu is a city close to Fukuoka with many attractions including Fukuoka National Museum, beautiful gardens and shrines. Dazaifu is the former capital of Kyushu.

Dazaifu (太宰府市 Dazaifu-shi) is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Dazaifu (大宰府), the imperial office governing Kyushu, was moved from present-day Fukuoka after 663. Dazaifu hosted foreign embassies from China and Korea. Kōrokan, a guesthouse for foreign embassies, was also established.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

From the Nara period through the Heian period and until the Kamakura period, Dazaifu was one of the military and administrative centers of Japan. In the Heian period, Dazaifu was a place of exile for high-ranking courtiers. Nobles exiled there include Sugawara no Michizane, who was later deified, and upon whose grave the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine stands.

Dazaifu was sometimes attacked by rebels. At other times the head of Dazaifu himself raised a rebellion.
With the invasions of the Mongols and the decline of imperial authority, Dazaifu became less politically significant. In the Muromachi period the political center of Kyūshū was moved to Hakata.
In medieval times, Dazaifu was the base of the Shōni clan, which was later expelled by the Ōuchi clan.
In the Edo period, Dazaifu was a part of Kuroda han until its abolition in 1873.

Dazaifu Attractions

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine - features a Japanese garden. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine treasure house holds a National Treasure.

Komyozenji Temple - features both a stone zen garden along with a stone and moss Japanese garden.

Kyushu National Museum is the forth-largest national museum in Japan. The building features very distinctive modern architecture.

Kyushu National Museum

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