These Things May Attract Foreign Visitors Walking along Approach Path to Dazaifu Shrine

1 Gokaku Goods

Dazaifu Shrine is a holy place where visitors pray for academic success. Those preparing for major examinations come here to pray for Gokaku, the success in passing exams. Therefore, Gokaku Goods are specialty souvenirs found on the approach.

Okutopasu

A small red stuffed doll in the shape of an octopus, named “Okutopasu,” is a blend of the words “octopus” and “pass.” In Japanese, “Okutopasu” sounds like “Place and pass,” implying that if you place it where you study, you will pass the examination. This is a lucky charm souvenir at Dazaifu Shrine, which many people visit to pray for exam success.

Gokaku Bashi

These are chopsticks shaped like a pentagonal prism. Gokaku, meaning “pentagonal prism,” is a pun for the word meaning “pass the exam.” Like Okutopasu, it is also a lucky charm souvenir at Dazaifu Shrine.

Gokaku-Seishin-Tyunyu-Bo

This is a flat stick used for hitting, similar to one used in Zen meditation. It reminds students of the importance of concentration, like in Zen meditation. If they lose concentration, they can use this stick to refocus themselves. 

Gokaku-Hachimaki

A Hachimaki is a Japanese headband made of thin cloth. It is worn when concentration is needed to achieve something, like in a game or a battle. It is sold at souvenir shops with the Japanese word “Gokaku” on it.

Gokaku Ramen Bowl

This is another pentagon/pass (Gokaku) item. It is served in one of the popular ramen chain shops, Ichiran. This pentagon-shaped “Donburi” bowl is only available at this shop.

2 Newly-Opened Popular Food Shops

Kasanoya and Kikuchi, both Umegae rice cake shops, used to be the top two most popular food shops on the approach, but not anymore. The situation is changing, and new fashionable food shops have appeared one after another. The following three are currently attracting a lot of visitors.

00Mentaiko Rice Ball at Fukutaro

Mentaiko, red spicy cod roe, is one of Fukuoka’s specialty foods. Fukutaro is a Mentaiko shop that also sells fancy “onigiri” rice balls. These are great for “tabearuki,” eating a snack or food while walking, similar to a hamburger.

Rice Box with Mentaiko and Wagu Beef at Kagura

Food boxes are called “(O-)Ju.” In Fukuoka, Mentaiko Ju is becoming very popular, and a new Mentaiko Ju shop has opened here. It is already one of the most popular food shops in Dazaifu.

Amaou Straberry Daifuku at Tenzan : 

Tenzan is a shop selling monaka in the shape of an onigawara, a decorative tile placed at the edge of a rooftop, representing the face of an oni, a scary ogre. Monaka is a traditional Japanese sweet made of wafers, sandwiching azuki sweet bean paste. This shop now sells seasonal monaka products, including Amaou Strawberry DaifukuAmaou is a specialty strawberry from Fukuoka, and this daifuku contains the strawberry and mochi in the monaka.

3 Typical Japanese Things/Food

Umegae-Mochi

A grilled rice cake called Umegae-MochiUmegae means a twig of a plum tree. This name comes from the story of Michizane Sugawara. He was deeply saddened and kept indoors in Dazaifu, so an old lady wanted to cheer him up by giving him mochi. But as he was confined inside, she stuck the mochi to a plum twig and offered it to him from outside.

Sweet Sake

A sweet drink made by fermenting rice with koji malt. It is called sake, but in most cases, it has no alcohol. It is often served or sold in temples and shrines during festivities like New Year’s Day.

Dazaifu Plum Soda-pop

This plum beverage contains special plum syrup produced by high school students at Fukuoka Agricultural High School, which is a 15-minute drive from the shrine. It is an example of successful school-community cooperation projects.

Dried Hijiki Seaweed in a Flavor of Pickled Plum

A shop named Fukutomi in Fukuoka sells this food. It is made by mixing soy sauce-flavored dried hijiki seaweed, crunchy pieces of sour pickled plum, and white sesame seeds. It makes an excellent furikake for steamed hot rice. Furikake is a finely chopped or powdered food that is sprinkled (furikakeru) on hot rice to add flavor.

Boten, Skewered Tempura

Boten means “stick tempura.” In this case, tempura does not mean the usual type of tempura. This tempura is made by frying fish paste. It is shaped like a thin, long box and sold on a stick. It is a fast food that is good for eating while walking around.

Motsunabe, Giblets Pod Dish

Motsunabe is a hot pot dish whose main ingredient is motsu (entrails or giblets). Other ingredients include vegetables (cabbage, garlic chives, red chili pepper, and garlic), tofu, and noodles (added toward the end). It is cooked with soy sauce or miso soup. This hot pot dish used to be eaten only in the Fukuoka City area, but now it is enjoyed all over Japan.

Maccha Sweets

Matcha, powdered green tea, is traditionally used in tea ceremonies but is often used as an ingredient in Japanese sweets. It has gained great popularity among foreign visitors as well. Fukuoka Prefecture, where Dazaifu is located, has a very famous green-tea producing area called Yame. This shop mainly sells Yame green tea.

4 Typical Japanese Things/Craftwork 

Woodcraft of a bird Uso

The English word for uso is bullfinch. This woodcraft is sold as a lucky charm in Dazaifu souvenir shops. According to legend, when Michizane Sugawara performed a ritual to drive away evil, numerous bees appeared and stung the participants. At that time, bullfinches flew up and ate the bees, saving the people. Dazaifu Shrine holds a ritual named after this bird, where people bring and exchange uso woodcrafts every year. This is called Uso-Kae (change bullfinches), which can also mean “Lie Change.”

Beckoning Cat

A figurine of a cat sitting upright with a raised front paw, resembling a beckoning gesture. It is one of the lucky charms. A raised right paw beckons money, while a left paw beckons people.

Hyotan Gourd

A container made from the dried fruit of a “hyotan” gourd, shaped like the figure 8 (with the lower circle being much bigger), with its flesh removed. It is also a lucky charm. The hyotan is often depicted on dishes, paintings, kimonos, and other items. The Sennari Hyotan, a species of hyotan bearing many fruits, was used as the military sign pole of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Later, it became a symbol of victory.

Geta Clogs

Wooden footwear similar to sandals, without an overcover. They have a flat wooden base with a thong on the upper side and two teeth (for men) or two flat pieces (for women) on the sole. Few people wear geta today, but they can still be seen worn with a yukata for summer festivals.

Dharma Doll

Dharma refers to a legendary Buddhist Zen monk, but the term often refers to the figurine representing him. According to legend, he lost his arms and legs while meditating for nine years facing a wall, so the Dharma figurine consists of only a red body with a large white face. The doll is designed to return to its upright position when tilted sideways, symbolizing a never-give-up spirit. A large Dharma doll is often sold with blank eyes. When someone begins a significant endeavor, they often purchase one and paint only one pupil as a prayer for success. Once the goal is achieved, they paint the other pupil. It is considered a kind of lucky charm.

Kurume Kasuri

Kasuri refers to a woven pattern or a cloth with this pattern, characterized by some parts being “kasuri,” or scraped. It became very popular for kimonos during the Edo period and developed unique styles in various regions. Kurume is one of these regions, known for its cotton indigo cloth woven with white or blue patterns.

Wooden Sword

For no clear reason, bokuto (wooden swords) are often sold at souvenir shops in sightseeing spots. Many boys on school trips (and perhaps some foreign visitors) are attracted to this item. This may explain why wooden swords are commonly available in these shops.

(A man named Takahashi in Aizuwakamatsu began selling bokuto as souvenirs for tourists visiting the Byakkotai site.)

Japanese Umbrella

Traditional Japanese umbrellas are primarily made of bamboo for the frame and oil-coated Japanese paper for the canopy. They have their own beauty, as they allow light to pass through, creating unique patterns and watermarks when exposed to sunlight.

Bamboo Stepper for Health

This is a cut-off piece of bamboo shaped like a half-cylinder. People step on the curved side repeatedly to maintain health. Oriental medicine suggests there are many acupuncture points on the soles of the feet, so stepping on this bamboo tool stimulates them and promotes health.

Tenugui

Tenugui, literally meaning “hand-wiper,” is a Japanese towel mainly made of cotton. It is used for washing faces, bathing, or covering heads. It is a traditional Japanese product that has been used since the samurai period. The pictures or patterns on tenugui are often appreciated.

Kendama

Kendama is a traditional Japanese toy, consisting of a small hammer-shaped handle with a spike on the top and a string tied to a ball. Both ends of the handle are cup-shaped. The player shakes the toy, throws the ball into the air, and tries to catch it in one of the cups or on the spike. There are many tricks, ranging from easy to extremely difficult. Believe it or not, there is a world cup tournament for kendama where players compete in their skills.

Hakata Niwaka Mask

This mask covers the upper half of the face during a niwaka comic performance in Hakata, the old name for Fukuoka. The mask, with its funny features, has begun to be used in various products, especially as souvenirs for visitors to Fukuoka.

5 Others

Starbucks in a style of a Japanese house

This shop, part of the world-famous coffee chain, is located on the approach road to Dazaifu Shrine. It was designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma. The upper side of the shop features numerous wooden beams that are stretched and crossed, with even the entrance surrounded by many protruding wooden beams. 

Power Stone Shop

In Japan, many types of stones, aside from jewels, are very popular. They are used as ornaments or accessories. Interestingly, each stone is believed to have special physical or spiritual effects. Many people keep them as lucky charms.

Sumikko-Grashi House

Sumikko-Gurashi is a set of fictional characters created by the Japanese company San-X. The name roughly translates to “life in the corner.” These characters are very popular among children. Besides the shop in Dazaifu, there are Sumikko-Gurashi shops on other famous approach roads: Ginkaku-ji, Kiyomizu Temple, Ise Shrine, and Zenko-ji Temple. This indicates that Dazaifu is one of the top sightseeing spots related to religion.

Other Things You May See on the Approaching Road to Dazaifu Shrine. Jump to Click.