Kushida Jinja

Kushida Jinja is an ancient shrine affectionately known as "O-Kushida-san" and serves as the chief shrine of Hakata. It is famous as the starting point of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, and each July, magnificent floats dash through the shrine grounds. This shrine has a long history walking alongside Hakata's development and is deeply revered as the deity of commerce supporting the merchant city of Hakata. Within the grounds, magnificent decorative yamakasa floats are displayed year-round, allowing visitors to experience Hakata's traditional culture firsthand. It is a place where the spirit of Hakatajin dwells, truly the spiritual homeland of Hakata.