The shrine was dates back to 72 A.D. when it was first built. It was then known as Washio Shrine. Originally the shrine was home to 2 gods. 2 more were added when Atago Shrine in Kyoto merged with Washio Shrine in 1634 by Kuroda Tadayuki, of the Kuroda clan. The Kuroda clan was given the Fukuoka area after supporting Ieyasu’s victory during the battle of Sekigahara in the year of 1600. The shrine today is home to 4 gods. The present building today dates from the 17th century.
The shrine attracts visitors year-round. On New Year’s Day, approximately 700,000 people will visit this sacred shrine. The shrine hosts a new year’s festival (January 23-24), a cherry blossom festival (April 1-15), Tanabata (Star) festival (July 7), Hozuki summer festival (July 20-21), Shichi-go-san (November 15), a fire festival (December 5) and the Dai-Saito Homa Ceremony of Shinto and Buddhist realms.
The shrine attracts visitors from Fukuoka and outside Fukuoka for its healing powers. The shrine is said to help drive away evil, bringing about good fortune, helping start a harmonious relationship, have success in business and academics, bring traffic safety and keeping the home safe and secure (hearth in the home as a place of warmth and cooking). The shrine is also said to have power to help those who wish to give up drinking and smoking!
The shrine and the hill it stands on were long known as Mount Washio and Washio Shrine. This changed when the feudal lord of Fukuoka transferred his tutelary deity there from Kyoto in 1634. There is a breathtaking view of Fukuoka, Hakata bay and Fukuoka Tower. Night or day, the view from the hill is spectacular. There are over 2,000 cherry blossom trees on the shrines grounds which draws thousands of visitors during the Sakura festival.
Atago shrine is a 15 minute walk from Muromi Stations on the Kuko subway line and a shorter walk if you take the bus (Nishitestu bus #1 and get off at Atago-shita bus stop).
819-0015 2-7-1 Atago Nishi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Tel: 092-881-0103 Fax: 092-883-9200
