Dazaifu weekend itinerary
- Leave Fukuoka City by car at 8:00, tour from Dazaifu Tenmangu to Futsukaichi Onsen, and return around 18:10.
- Adult admission is ¥700 for the Kyushu National Museum Cultural Exchange Exhibition and ¥400 for Dazaifu Exhibition Hall.
- For the final bath, day-use bathing costs ¥2,000 at Daimaru Besso and ¥450 on weekends at Hakatayu.
Updated October 21, 2026: edition for Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25
No plans or reservations for this weekend? Leave central Fukuoka by car at 8:00 and follow this order, and your day is set.
Start with Dazaifu Tenmangu and umegae mochi (梅ヶ枝餅), grilled rice cakes filled with sweet red bean paste, along its approach. Continue to Kyushu National Museum, then have local chicken for lunch at the foot of Mt. Homan. Visit Homangu Kamado Shrine and Dazaifu Government Office Ruins, then bathe at Futsukaichi Onsen before returning around 18:00.
The museum’s special exhibition “Himiko’s Mirrors” starts on October 31, so this weekend’s route includes its regular Cultural Exchange Exhibition. October 25 (Sunday) brings the shrine’s monthly Nijugonichi-sai, the monthly festival on the 25th. Mugwort umegae mochi is also available that day only.
In short
- Keep breakfast light with umegae mochi along the shrine approach. Lunch is charcoal-grilled local chicken at the foot of Mt. Homan.
- If the shrine’s parking center is full, use the museum’s parking lot for ¥500 per visit. Alternatively, Nishitetsu trains take about 35 minutes from Tenjin to Dazaifu Station, with no parking to arrange.
- Finish with a bath at Daimaru Besso, ¥2,000 with towels, or the public bath Hakatayu, ¥450 on weekends.
- Checked with official pages on October 21, 2026.
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Dazaifu day-trip timetable: leave Fukuoka City at 8:00 (October 24 and 25)
Leave Fukuoka City at 8:00, reach Dazaifu Tenmangu at 8:40, visit the museum at 10:00, have lunch near Kamado Shrine before 12:00, bathe at Futsukaichi Onsen at 16:00, and return around 18:10.Choose between two baths for your final stop.
| Time | Where | What to do | Next stop (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 | Fukuoka City | Take the urban expressway to Dazaifu | Drive 35–40 minutes to Dazaifu Parking Center, then walk 7 minutes along the shrine approach |
| 8:40 | Dazaifu Tenmangu | Visit the shrine, which opens at 6:30. Worship directly in front of the main sanctuary | A short walk to the shrine approach |
| 9:20 | A sweets shop on the approach (for example, Kasanoya) | A light breakfast of umegae mochi. A takeaway box of 5 costs ¥650 | Take the moving walkway and escalators from the shrine grounds to the museum |
| 10:00 | Kyushu National Museum | Visit the Cultural Exchange Exhibition (adults ¥700), including the autumn Kyuhaku tour “Jimi Ennen” | Return to the parking center, then drive 10–15 minutes to Kamado Shrine |
| 11:50 | A local chicken restaurant at Mt. Homan’s foot (for example, Sumiyaki Jidori Sanzo) | Lunch on charcoal-grilled local chicken. Reservations available; seating limited to 2 hours | A short walk to Kamado Shrine |
| 13:40 | Homangu Kamado Shrine | Walk around the grounds and viewing terrace | Drive 15 minutes to Dazaifu Government Office Ruins |
| 14:50 | Dazaifu Government Office Ruins | Walk through the historic grounds and visit Dazaifu Exhibition Hall, adults ¥400, open until 16:30 | Drive 10–15 minutes to Futsukaichi Onsen |
| 16:00 | Futsukaichi Onsen | A day-use bath at Daimaru Besso (¥2,000) or Hakatayu (weekends ¥450) | Drive 30–40 minutes to Fukuoka City |
| 18:10 | Fukuoka City | Arrive back | Arrival |
| Sun | Optional: mugwort umegae mochi on the shrine approach | Sold along the approach only on the 25th each month. Choose this version for breakfast | At the 9:20 shrine-approach stop |
| Sun 11:00 | Optional: Nijugonichi-sai at Dazaifu Tenmangu’s main sanctuary | A monthly festival open to everyone. Leave the museum around 10:45 and return to the main sanctuary | Then drive from the parking center to Kamado Shrine. Lunch moves to around 12:30 |
| Sun | Optional: Gozenyu reopens after renovation | Chikushino City’s public bath reopens on the 25th after renovation. Adults ¥450 | At the 16:00 Futsukaichi Onsen stop |
| Sat & Sun | Optional: special examination-success prayer festival period | Until October 31. Limited-period talismans and amulets for those applying for examination-success prayers | During the 8:40 shrine visit |
Travel times combine road-map route estimates with allowances for traffic lights and congestion. The journeys to and from Fukuoka City use Chuo Ward as the reference point, so your departure location affects timing.
Sources: official facility websites, Dazaifu Tourism Association and Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association (checked October 21, 2026).
Without a car, take Nishitetsu trains from Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station, changing at Futsukaichi Station for the Dazaifu Line. The journey to Dazaifu Station takes about 35 minutes, and some trains run directly from Tenjin (Dazaifu Tenmangu: access information (Japanese)). Taking the train removes the need to find parking. From Dazaifu Station, take the Uchiyama-bound Mahoroba-go community bus to Kamado Shrine for ¥100, taking about 10 minutes.
Dazaifu weekend extras for October 24 and 25
On October 25 (Sunday), Nijugonichi-sai starts at 11:00 in Dazaifu Tenmangu’s main sanctuary, and shops sell that day’s mugwort umegae mochi.The monthly festival thanks Tenjin, the shrine’s deity, and prays for visitors’ safety; anyone can attend (Dazaifu Tenmangu: Nijugonichi-sai (Japanese)). To attend, leave the museum around 10:45, return to the main sanctuary, then continue to Kamado Shrine. Lunch will be around 12:30, so use that time when reserving at Sanzo.
Both October 24 and 25 fall within Dazaifu Tenmangu’s special examination-success prayer festival period, which ends Saturday, October 31. Those applying for examination-success prayers receive talismans and amulets available during this period.
Kyushu National Museum’s featured exhibition “Kyuhaku’s Ryukyu Collection” starts Tuesday, October 27, followed by “Himiko’s Mirrors” on Saturday, October 31 (Kyushu National Museum: official homepage (Japanese)). Neither exhibition has started this weekend.
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Dazaifu Tenmangu opens at 6:30, with worship in front of the main sanctuary
Take an early walk along the shrine approach while there are still fewer people around.
From the autumn equinox, Dazaifu Tenmangu opens at 6:30; from September through November, it closes at 19:00. Worship directly in front of the main sanctuary resumed on September 19, 2026, after about 3½ years. It had been suspended since spring 2023 during major renovation work (Dazaifu Tenmangu: September 19, 2026 announcement (Japanese)).
The shrine recommends Dazaifu Parking Center, with spaces for 850 standard cars and opening hours of 8:00–17:00. From there, walk about 7 minutes along the approach. During busy periods with congestion, entry may be restricted to vehicles arriving from the Gojo intersection direction (Dazaifu Tenmangu: access information (Japanese)).
| Name | Dazaifu Tenmangu |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | Gates open 6:30 (from the autumn equinox), close 19:00 (September–November) |
| Phone | 092-922-8225 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Kasanoya, for example: a light umegae mochi breakfast on the shrine approach
With charcoal-grilled chicken planned for lunch, keep breakfast to around 1–2 umegae mochi to leave room.
For example, Kasanoya on the shrine approach opens at 9:00 and operates every day. It was selected for Tabelog’s “Wagashi and Japanese Sweets WEST 100 Famous Stores 2026.”
Kasanoya began as an inn in Taisho 11 (1922), selling umegae mochi from the start. Today, it serves meals and sweets along the shrine approach. Its umegae mochi wraps chunky sweet red bean paste in dough combining glutinous and non-glutinous rice, then grills it. All ingredients come from Japan (Kasanoya: how umegae mochi is made (Japanese)).
Takeaway boxes cost ¥650 for 5 or ¥1,300 for 10, including tax (Kasanoya: umegae mochi information (Japanese)). Buy souvenirs now to avoid another stop on the way home.
| Name | Kasanoya |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-7-24 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–18:00 (open daily) |
| Phone | 092-922-1010 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Kyushu National Museum opens at 9:30: Cultural Exchange Exhibition, adults ¥700
After your umegae mochi breakfast, continue to the museum right beside the shrine.
Kyushu National Museum’s Cultural Exchange Exhibition costs ¥700 for adults and ¥350 for university students; high school students and younger visitors, and anyone under 18, enter free, with opening hours of 9:30–17:00 and last admission at 16:30.The museum closes on Mondays, so it is open on October 24 and 25 (Kyushu National Museum: visitor information (Japanese)).
This weekend, the fourth-floor Cultural Exchange Exhibition gallery hosts the autumn Kyuhaku tour “Jimi Ennen—Stories of Taste,” through November 29. It explores works connected with food, health, seasonal pleasures and banquets (Kyushu National Museum: “Jimi Ennen” tour (Japanese)). Moving walkways and escalators connect the museum with the shrine grounds.
If you cannot enter the shrine’s parking center, use the museum’s lot, with 313 standard-car spaces and a ¥500 fee per visit. Entry is available from 8:30–16:30, and vehicles must leave by 19:00, according to the museum’s official visitor information.
| Name | Kyushu National Museum |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-7-8 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30; closed Mondays, or the following day if a national holiday or substitute holiday) |
| Phone | 092-922-3551 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Sumiyaki Jidori Sanzo, for example: charcoal-grilled chicken at Mt. Homan’s foot
After a leisurely walk around the museum, you may be ready for lunch.
For example, Sumiyaki Jidori Sanzo near Kamado Shrine was selected for Tabelog’s “Chicken Restaurants 100 Famous Stores 2025” and opens 11:00–22:00, closing Thursdays.These hours and the weekly closing day come from the restaurant’s official Instagram profile, checked October 21, 2026.
The restaurant occupies a traditional house, with hearth seating and a counter with recessed legroom. You can reserve seats, with a 2-hour limit. Weekday lunch offers apply only on weekdays; weekends use the regular menu. According to its Tabelog listing, it may close early when chicken slaughtered that morning runs out.
For weekend lunch, reserve your seats by phone by the previous day. From Dazaifu Station, take the Mahoroba-go bus to its final stop, Uchiyama, in front of Kamado Shrine, then walk about 2 minutes.
| Name | Sumiyaki Jidori Sanzo |
|---|---|
| Address | 832-2 Uchiyama, Dazaifu, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | 11:00–22:00 (closed Thursdays) |
| Phone | 092-710-1722 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Homangu Kamado Shrine: views over Dazaifu from the grounds’ viewing terrace
After your chicken lunch, take a walk around the shrine grounds just next door.
Kamado Shrine stands at Mt. Homan’s foot and is known for its deity of matchmaking, with views across Dazaifu from the terrace behind its amulet office.(Kamado Shrine: guide to the grounds (Japanese)) Use the shrine’s paid parking lot, which holds about 100 cars (Kamado Shrine: access information (Japanese)). Standard-car parking costs ¥500, as of January 2026 (Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association, Crossroad Fukuoka: Futsukaichi Onsen feature (Japanese)). Sanzo and the shrine are within walking distance, so you can leave the car parked between visits.
The grounds contain about 300 deciduous trees, including ginkgo and maple. Their leaves usually change color from mid- to late November.
| Name | Homangu Kamado Shrine |
|---|---|
| Address | 883 Uchiyama, Dazaifu, Fukuoka |
| Phone | 092-922-4106 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Dazaifu Government Office Ruins: spacious historic grounds, exhibition hall open until 16:30
Take one more walk before your hot-spring bath.
Dazaifu Government Office Ruins preserves the office that governed Kyushu and handled foreign relations during the Nara and Heian periods. Today, its remaining foundation stones sit within a park designated a National Special Historic Site. Dazaifu Exhibition Hall displays excavated remains, finds, a reconstructed government-office model and a diorama of the “Plum Blossom Banquet” (Dazaifu Tourism Association: Dazaifu Government Office Ruins (Japanese)).
Dazaifu Exhibition Hall opens 9:00–16:30 and closes on Mondays. Since April 1, 2026, admission costs ¥400 for adults and ¥200 for high school and university students. Elementary and junior high school students enter free (Ancient Dazaifu Preservation Association: Dazaifu Exhibition Hall (Japanese)). The hall has parking for 30 cars (Crossroad Fukuoka: Dazaifu Exhibition Hall (Japanese)).
| Name | Dazaifu Exhibition Hall |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-6-1 Kanzeonji, Dazaifu, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–16:30 (closed Mondays, or the following day if a national holiday) |
| Phone | 092-922-7811 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Futsukaichi Onsen to finish: Daimaru Besso ¥2,000, Hakatayu ¥450 on weekends
Give your feet a rest with a bath before heading home for the night.
At Futsukaichi Onsen, Daimaru Besso offers day-use bathing for ¥2,000 per person, including consumption and bathing taxes, from 7:00–23:00, with last entry at 22:00.The baths close for cleaning from 10:30–11:30. No reservation is needed, although you may wait during busy periods. Towels are provided, so you can arrive empty-handed, according to the day-use bathing information on Daimaru Besso’s official homepage.
Daimaru Besso is a hot-spring inn founded in Keio 1 (1865), with continuously flowing natural spring water in its large “Tsugita no Yu” bath. After bathing, you can walk through its Japanese garden of about 3,500 tsubo. Car navigation may direct you to the old main gate; the current entrance faces Prefectural Route 31 (Daimaru Besso: access information (Japanese)). Parking holds 40 cars (Crossroad Fukuoka: Daimaru Besso (Japanese)).
For a cheaper bath, Hakatayu is a public bath founded in Manen 1 (1860). Adult admission costs ¥350 on weekdays and ¥450 on weekends and other holidays. It opens daily, 10:00–21:30, with last admission at 21:00. A towel set costs ¥280 to rent (Hakatayu: opening hours and fees (Japanese)).
Hakatayu has no parking, making it a suitable option when traveling by train (Crossroad Fukuoka: Hakatayu (Japanese)). Futsukaichi Onsen is about a 10-minute walk from JR Futsukaichi Station (Dazaifu Tourism Association: Futsukaichi Onsen (Japanese)).
On Sunday (the 25th), you can also choose Gozenyu, a public bath run by Chikushino City that reopens after renovation. Admission is ¥450 for adults (junior high school age and up) and ¥230 for children (age 3 to elementary school), and it opens 10:00–21:30 (last admission 21:00). It has no parking of its own; the city-run Daimon Kokashita parking lot, a 5-minute walk away, is free for the first 4 hours (Chikushino City: Gozenyu page (Japanese)).
| Name | Daimaru Besso |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-20-1 Yumachi, Chikushino City, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | Day-use bathing 7:00–23:00 (last entry 22:00, cleaning 10:30–11:30) |
| Phone | 092-924-3939 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
| Name | Hakatayu |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-14-5 Yumachi, Chikushino City, Fukuoka |
| Hours / Closed | 10:00–21:30 (last reception 21:00, open daily) |
| Phone | 092-922-2119 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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More weekend day trips from Fukuoka
- Itoshima day trip: café, oyster hut, hike, onsen and farm market
- Asakura day trip: ramen, persimmon picking, onsen and udon
- Yobuko and Karatsu day trip: morning market, squid, cape, castle and onsen
- Tosu and Ogori day trip: outlets, ramen, onsen and Costco
- Munakata and Fukutsu day trip: shrines, fish, pines and onsen
Sources (checked October 2026)
13 pages we checked
- Dazaifu Tenmangu (Japanese): access information, Nijugonichi-sai, September 19, 2026 announcement
- Kyushu National Museum (Japanese): official homepage, visitor information, “Jimi Ennen” tour
- Kasanoya (Japanese): how umegae mochi is made, umegae mochi information
- Kamado Shrine (Japanese): guide to the grounds, access information
- Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association, Crossroad Fukuoka (Japanese): Futsukaichi Onsen feature, Dazaifu Exhibition Hall, Daimaru Besso, Hakatayu
- Dazaifu Tourism Association (Japanese): Dazaifu Government Office Ruins, Futsukaichi Onsen
- Ancient Dazaifu Preservation Association (Japanese): Dazaifu Exhibition Hall
- Daimaru Besso (Japanese): access information
- Hakatayu (Japanese): opening hours and fees
- Chikushino City (Japanese): Gozenyu page
- Kyushu National Museum (English): official English site
- Dazaifu Tenmangu (English): official English site
- Daimaru Besso (English): official English site
