Kushida Shrine
Hakata's guardian shrine, home to a millennium-old ginkgo and a living festival tradition
Kushida Shrine stands at the spiritual heart of Hakata, serving as the neighbourhood's guardian since antiquity. Its main hall was rebuilt in the 16th century under Toyotomi Hideyoshi during his restoration of the city, lending the precinct an atmosphere of layered history. By the entrance, a sacred ginkgo tree more than a thousand years old anchors the grounds in quiet, unhurried time. The shrine is perhaps best known as the home of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa, a UNESCO-listed festival whose energy is kept alive all year through a towering 13-metre decorative float displayed within the precincts.
When to go
The shrine is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Visiting early in the morning lends a calm that the midday hours rarely offer. Autumn, when the ancient ginkgo turns gold, is a particularly rewarding time to linger.