 15
Km from Fukuoka, Dazaifu only just squeaks free of the urban
sprawl, but enough to possess a definite country air. The town
is very much on Kyushu's tourist map, especially in late February and
March when cherry blossoms signal both the start of spring and the
onset off the exam season. Anxious students descend on Tenman-gu,
Japans foremost shrine dedicated to the god of learning, of the nearby
temples and other historical relics remain surprisingly
peaceful. Everything is within easy walking distance of
the station, making it possible to cover the main sights in a day.
Dazaifu rose to prominence in the late 17th century, when the
emperor established a regional seat of government and military
headquarters (know as the Dazaifu) here, responsible for defense,
trade and diplomatic ties particularly with China and Korea. For
more than five hundred years successive governor generals ruled Kyushu
from Dazaifu, protected by a series ditches, embankments and hill-top
fortresses, until political circumstances changed in the twelfth
century and the town gradually fell into decline.
This temple was great to see. We had tea at one of the shops,
with the raised tatami mats under cherry blossom trees it was a great
experience.
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