Dazaifu Tenmangu Museum
Homotsuden (the Shrine Museum) was founded in 1928 as a memorial for the 1025th anniversary of the death of Sugawara Michizane.
When the museum was founded, it was not common for shrines and temples to make their valuable treasures open for public; thus, it was a very challenging and pioneering project. In 1953, Homotsuden was signed into the first registered museum in Fukuoka prefecture. The annex, the Kanko Rekishikan (Kanko Historical Museum: Kanko is the alias name of Sugawara Michizane), was opened in the next year. The current building, which has been renovated in 1992, has 2 stories with 1 basement. The basement has the office of the Institute of Art and Culture and a conference room. The grand floor has a guidance room, three exhibition rooms, and the museum shop. The second floor has the three special storage, a library, and a storage for paintings. The properties Homotsuden owns are diverse; Kan’en (the ancient dictionary in Tang Dynasty. A Japanese National Treasure), Kenuki-gata Tachi (A sword with a tweezer shaped handle. An Important Cultural Property), old documents and records, portraits of Sugawara Michizane, illustrated compound of Dazaufu Tenmangu, ritual equipment, and old books. Today, Homotsuden still preserves and exhibits historical properties as well as contemporary art produced in the Art Program, started in 2006.
General Information
Opens 9:00~16:30 (last admission is 16:00)
Closed on Mondays except National Holidays
*The museum might close occasionally for changing exhibits.
| Individuals | Groups of 30 or more | |
| Adults | 500yen | 400yen |
| University, College and High school Students | 200yen | 100yen |
| Junior High School and Elementary School Students | 100yen | 50yen |
Persons with disability and one person accompanying each of them are admitted half of charge.
4-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka, Japan Post code 818-0117
Combination tickets for Dazaifu Tenmangu Museum,
Kanko Historical Museum and Kyushu National Museum
You can visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Museum, Kanko Historical Museum and Kyushu National Museum, usually cost 1400yen in total, with this combination ticket at the price of 1000yen.
People aged between 19 and 69 can benefit from using this ticket.
*Free admission for under 18 and above 70 at Kyushu National Museum / Valid ID required
Tickets are only available at these three museums.
Dazaifu Tenmangu
Dazaifu Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine built over the grave of Sugawara Michizane, known as Tenjin or the Kami (deity) of academic achievements.
Michizane was born in Kyoto in 845 into a family of scholars and was heir to a long tradition of loyal service to the Emperor. He had been a high-ranking government officer, was demoted from Kyoto because of a political plot by his rivals, the Fujiwara clan.
He endured a miserable life in exile at Dazaifu, yet preserved his character continuing his scholarly studies, where he died in 903 at the age of 59.
His coffin was carried on an ox carriage, according to the legend the ox suddenly came to a halt, therefore the burial took place on the spot, and this became the site of the Tenmangu's main shrine visited by 10 million people today.
Dazaifu Tenmangu official website: https://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/en/
Dazaifu Tenmangu Institute of Art and Culture
In 1968, Nishitakatsuji Nobusada, the 38th chief priest of Dazaifu Tenmangu established the Institute of Art and Culture as a center for cultural activities and research on properties and artifacts which are owned by the shrine. The Institute has published various books, including Dazaifu and Dazaifu Tenmangu historical records. Since 2006, it has been operating Dazaifu Tenmangu Art Program.