The festival is held on the first Sunday of March. Kyokusui-no-en is a Japanese traditional ceremony held at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine on the first Sunday of March, a purification ceremony on a winding stream, is performed by ladies and gentlemen in a ceremonial court robe under the plum blossoms in full-bloom.      After the Tobiume-no-mai dance by shrine maidens, Kyokusui-no-En Festival begins. Vermilion-lacquered cups full of sake are set afloat down the stream.      Before the cups reach each of the participants sitting along the stream, they have to make up a Japanese poem called waka, and write it down on a strip of fancy paper. When the cups reach the participants, they drink the sake and hand the paper strip and cup over to an attendant.     The ceremony has its origin in a historical fact that Ono-no-Yoshifuru, an elder brother of a noted-calligrapher Ono-no-Tofu, held a ceremony to appease the soul of Michizane Sugawara and to beguile tedious hours in a rural life.        

Kyokusui-no-en at Dazaifu Shrine…の続きを読む

  Kyushu National Museum was opened in 2005 in Dazaifu-city next to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, as Japan’s fourth national museum after Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara. Dazaifu is the place where played important role as an administrative center and a center for trade with China and Korea since 1300 years ago, therefore the concept of the museum is decided “Interpreting the formation of Japanese culture from the perspective of Asian history”.    

Kyushu National Museum…の続きを読む

  Nita pass is one of the best scenic spot in Unzen. At any time of the year the natural scenery of Nita Pass in Unzen is magnificent. Azaleas, green leaves, brilliant autumnal tints of maples and silver frost represent each season of the year.      Azalea in Spring  Autumn leaves  Frost in Winter   The ropeway take you slowly from Nita Pass to Mt. Myoken at a highest of 1300 meters, from the observation point of Mt. Myoken, you can get a 360 degree panorama view which encompasses not only the Ariake Sea and Amakusa Island but the smoke the crater Mt.Aso.      

Nita pass…の続きを読む