By ando 
Kushida Jinja, affectionately known as “Okushida-san” by Hakata locals, is centrally located in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City. It is nationally renowned as the shrine where the Hakata Gion Yamakasa, one of Japan’s three great Gion festivals, is dedicated. However, its grounds actually hide numerous mysteries and fascinating stories.
This time, we will delve into the untold stories and legends of Kushida Jinja, which will make your visit even more enjoyable.
Kushida Jinja Basic Information
Location: 1-41 Kamikawabata-machi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Enshrined Kami: Ohata Nushi no Mikoto (Kushida-gu Shrine), Amaterasu Omikami (Daijingu Shrine), Susanoo no Mikoto (Gion-gu Shrine)
Founded: Believed to have been established in Tenpyo Hoji 1 (757 AD)
Blessings: Longevity, business prosperity, warding off evil
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1. Drink for Eternal Youth? The Salty Mystery of the ‘Reisen Tsuru no Ido’ (Sacred Spring Crane Well)
Located right next to the worship hall (haiden) is the ‘Reisen Tsuru no Ido,’ surrounded by three cranes. The water springing from this well has long been revered as ‘sacred water for eternal youth and longevity.’
This well water has a peculiar characteristic: it is salty.
This saltiness is actually a remnant from when Hakata was much closer to the sea than it is today, causing the groundwater to contain salt. In the past, there was a custom to drink ‘the first sip for one’s own longevity, the second for family, and the third for relatives.’ However, for water quality management reasons, drinking the water is now prohibited. Nevertheless, it is still carefully preserved today as a ‘memory of the sea’ that tells the history of Hakata.
2. Does it Rotate Every New Year’s Eve? The ‘Eto Ehoban’ (Zodiac Directional Board) on the Romon Gate Ceiling
When you pass through the Romon (the main gate), be sure to look up at the ceiling. There, you will see a vividly colored ‘Eto Ehoban’ hanging.
This is a directional board that indicates the ‘Eho’ (lucky direction) for the year. Amazingly, on New Year’s Eve every year, the arrow is rotated to point in the direction of the new zodiac sign for the coming year. It is a very rare mechanism that constantly indicates the dwelling place of ‘Toshitokujin,’ the kami who presides over fortune and blessings for that year.
3. Even Famous Sumo Wrestlers Lifted Them! The ‘Chikaraishi’ (Strength Stones) Lined Up on the Grounds
In one corner of the shrine grounds, giant stones are lined up. These are called ‘Chikaraishi,’ or strength stones, and were dedicated by sumo wrestlers who lifted them to demonstrate their power during the ‘Unohi Sumo’ wrestling matches formerly held at Kushida Jinja.
The names of famous past Yokozuna (grand champions) like Hakuho, Asashoryu, and Takanohana are carved into the stones. There are also ‘Tameshiishi’ (trial stones) that general visitors can attempt to lift, but please be careful not to hurt your back, as they are unimaginably heavy!
4. A 1000-Year-Old Sacred Tree and the ‘Moko Iwaishi’ (Mongol Anchor Stone)
The giant ginkgo tree on the shrine grounds is known as ‘Kushida no Gin nan’ and is a Fukuoka Prefectural designated natural monument, over 1000 years old.
If you look closely at the base of this tree, you will find a mysteriously shaped stone placed there. This is the ‘Moko Iwaishi,’ a stone anchor used by the ships of the Yuan Dynasty army that sank during the Mongol Invasions (Genko) in the Kamakura period. This witness to history, retrieved from the bottom of Hakata Bay, is quietly enshrined at the foot of the sacred tree.
5. Setsubun Limited! Japan’s Largest ‘Otafuku Mask’
Around the Setsubun season in February, a giant ‘Otafuku mask,’ approximately 5 meters tall and 4 meters wide, is installed at the gates of Kushida Jinja.
It is said that passing through the widely opened mouth of this Otafuku mask when visiting the shrine brings blessings for business prosperity and family safety. Its incredibly impactful appearance has become a winter tradition in Hakata and a popular topic on social media every year.
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Anime Pilgrimage Information: Setting for the Anime ‘Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens’
Kushida Jinja is also known as a pilgrimage site for the popular anime ‘Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens,’ which is set in Hakata.
In the anime, it frequently appears in scenes where the main characters gather and as an iconic Hakata landscape. In particular, the ‘Kazariyama Yamakasa’ (decorative float) displayed year-round and the view in front of the worship hall offer the exact same impactful scenery seen in the anime. Fans are encouraged to explore the shrine grounds from the same perspective as the characters in the show.
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Kushida Jinja is a place where Hakata’s history, festivals, and mysterious legends are condensed.
When you visit next, be sure to look at the anchor stone at your feet and the zodiac board on the ceiling, and immerse yourself in the mysteries of its profound history.
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