Kamado Shrine

About 10 minutes by bus from Nishitetsu Dazaifu Station, Kamado Shrine sits in a valley at the foot of Mt. Homan. It is an old shrine enshrining Tamayori-hime no Mikoto and is revered as a god of matchmaking, of warding off ill directions, and of protection from misfortune. It is also called Homan-gu, and the mountain was long known as Mt. Kamado. Because the mountain rises in the unlucky northeast direction as seen from the Dazaifu government office, it is said to have become a place of rites to protect Dazaifu and the nation.

According to the shrine's tradition, in 673 the founding monk Shinren was training in the mountains when the spirit of Tamayori-hime appeared, and at his report the court ordered an upper shrine built on the summit. Beneath the upper shrine on the summit, coins such as Wado Kaichin and the Kocho Juni-sen, along with Nara sancai ware, have been found, and are taken as evidence of state-level rites. Saicho, Kukai and members of the missions to Sui and Tang China are also said to have climbed the mountain to pray for safe voyages. In 1106 the shrine received the highest court rank, Shoichii, and in the Engishiki it was ranked among the Myojin Taisha. From the Middle Ages onward, worship by mountain ascetics flourished. The area including the shrine grounds was designated a national Historic Site in 2013.

The halls of the lower shrine at the foot of the mountain were built in 1927 in the nagare-zukuri style in cypress with a copper roof, and have a calm presence. In 2013, to mark the 1,350th anniversary festival, the copper roof was re-laid and other repairs were made. The grounds are dotted with places linked to matchmaking: the 'Tree of Happiness and Matchmaking Strings,' where you tie a paper string bearing your wish to a tree; the ogatama tree, said to call in good ties; the saikachi tree, for praying for reunions and new meetings; the 'Aikyo Rocks,' where it is said that if you can walk with your eyes closed from one rock to the other, love will be granted; and the 'Mizukagami,' where you see your face in water to purify your heart. From the lookout stage behind the amulet office you can see over the town of Dazaifu. Among the auxiliary shrines is one for Muso Gonnosuke, who is said to have fought Miyamoto Musashi.

The seasonal sights are rich. The cherry blossom is the shrine's crest. The autumn leaves are at their best from mid to late November, and during that period the grounds are illuminated at night from sunset until 9 p.m. (dates and hours may change from year to year). Events are held throughout the year, including the Matchmaking Grand Festival in mid-April and the annual festival on November 15.

To get there, take the Dazaifu city community bus 'Mahoroba-go' from Nishitetsu Dazaifu Station for about 10 minutes (100 yen) and get off at Uchiyama, right by the shrine. On foot it takes about 40 minutes from Dazaifu Station. By car it is about 8.5 km, or 20 minutes, from Dazaifu IC on the Kyushu Expressway, and there is paid parking for about 100 cars. Combined with the Kyushu National Museum and Dazaifu Tenmangu, it makes a full day's outing.