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Did you know there is a shrine right above JR Hakata Station?
Pass through three torii gates lining the approach path (sando), walk past the matchmaking statues, and arrive at the main hall (honden). Standing 60 meters above the ground, this is a place where you can pray for safe travels.
In this article, we introduce the charm of Tetsudo Shrine, directly connected to Hakata Station.
Hakata Tetsudo Shrine is located in Tsubame no Mori Hiroba, the rooftop garden of JR Hakata City. At approximately 60 meters above ground level, directly above Hakata Station, it occupies one of the most unusual locations for a shrine anywhere in Japan. Founded in 2011 to mark the full opening of the Kyushu Shinkansen line, the enshrined deity is Sumiyoshi Okami, whose spirit was divided from Sumiyoshi Shrine in the Hakata ward.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Visiting hours | 10:00 am - 10:00 pm (until 9:00 pm from January 4 to end of February) |
| Closed | Open year - round |
| Address | 1 - 1 Hakataeki Chuo - gai, Hakata - ku, Fukuoka - shi, Fukuoka 812 - 0012 |
| Access | Directly connected to JR Hakata Station (JR Hakata City rooftop) |
In March 2011, JR Hakata City opened to coincide with the full opening of the Kyushu Shinkansen. Tetsudo Shrine was founded in Tsubame no Mori Hiroba, the rooftop garden, as a place for travelers to pray for safe journeys.
The enshrined deity is Sumiyoshi Okami, whose spirit was divided from Sumiyoshi Shrine in the Hakata ward. Sumiyoshi Okami is a collective name for three deities: Sokotsutsu-no-o-no-Mikoto, Nakatsutsu-no-o-no-Mikoto, and Uwatsutsu-no-o-no-Mikoto, who are worshipped as gods protecting safe sea voyages and transportation. Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of the “Three Great Sumiyoshi Shrines” in Japan and holds the rank of Chikuzen Province Ichinomiya (the highest-ranking shrine in the former Chikuzen Province).
In fact, until Hakata Station was relocated to its current site in 1963, the Kagoshima Main Line tracks ran right alongside Sumiyoshi Shrine. It was this deep connection between the shrine and the railways that led to the creation of Tetsudo Shrine, enshrining Sumiyoshi Okami on the rooftop of Hakata Station.
Tetsudo Shrine features three torii gates, each with its own name: Star Gate (Seimon), Fortune Gate (Fukumon), and Dream Gate (Yumon).
The Star Gate wards off evil and misfortune, the Fortune Gate invites blessings, and the Dream Gate forges good connections.
These three torii gates stand along the 50-meter approach path (sando), and passing through each one is said to bring its respective blessings.
The entrance to Tetsudo Shrine is the first torii gate. Its plaque bears a star motif along with the inscription “Star Gate (Seimon).” The Star Gate carries the meaning of warding off evil and misfortune.
The second torii gate is a wooden torii standing midway along the approach path. Its plaque reads “Fortune Gate (Fukumon).” The Fortune Gate is a torii that symbolizes inviting good fortune.
The third torii gate stands where the greenery along the approach path is at its lushest. Its plaque reads “Dream Gate (Yumon).” The Dream Gate is a torii that symbolizes forging good connections.
After passing through the three torii gates, you arrive at the main hall (honden), which enshrines the deity Sumiyoshi Okami. The torii plaque reads “Tetsudo Shrine.”
Although Tetsudo Shrine is compact in size, it is a shrine of proper lineage, so it is equipped with a purification fountain (temizuya).
The purification fountain is a place to cleanse your hands before worship, and is considered a sacred spot. It helps visitors focus their hearts as they prepare to pray for safe travels.
After passing through the third torii gate, you enter a circular plaza lined with torii gates. Standing at the center is the Seven Lucky Children (Enmusubi Shichifuku Doji).
The Seven Lucky Children is a bronze statue installed when JR Hakata City opened in 2011. It was created by sculptor Satoshi Yabuuchi, who is also known for designing “Sento-kun,” the mascot of Nara.
Set against the backdrop of the seven prefectures of Kyushu, the seven children are depicted happily playing a train game together. The work embodies the wish that “all of Kyushu is connected as one.”
It is rumored that rubbing the heads of the children brings good luck, and the statue has become a popular power spot for matchmaking and good connections.
Near the main hall stands the Waganse Gassho Jizo.
This Jizo Bodhisattva, notable for its gentle expression and praying hands, was enshrined here as a symbol of compassion, offering prayers for the safety and recovery of those affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011.
The shrine grounds feature monuments and reliefs honoring individuals who contributed to the development of railways in Kyushu. The most prominent among them is the bust relief of Hermann Rumschöttel.
Rumschöttel was a railway engineer from Prussia (present-day Germany) who served as a mechanical superintendent for the Prussian State Railways.
In 1887, he came to Japan as a consulting engineer to build railways in Kyushu. Just two years later, on December 11, 1889, he opened the first railway line in Kyushu, running between Hakata Station and Chitosegawa Temporary Station. He went on to extend the line to Moji-ko Station and Kumamoto Station, laying the foundation for the railway network across Kyushu. For these achievements, he is known as the “Father of Kyushu Railways.”
Right next to Tetsudo Shrine, a miniature train called the “Tsubame Train” once ran.
The “Tsubame Train” was a miniature railway designed by Eiji Mitooka. Modeled after the “Tsubame” express train that operated in the 1930s, it featured a distinctive two-tone livery of vermilion and cream.
The train ran a route that circled Tsubame no Mori Hiroba twice, and several different cars were in service, including the “Kuro-chan Train” and “Dream Tsubame.”
The goshuin of Tetsudo Shrine features a unique design adorned with railway motifs such as wheels and rails. Since Tetsudo Shrine does not have its own shrine office, pre-written goshuin can be obtained at Sumiyoshi Shrine (about a 10-minute walk from Hakata Station), the parent shrine from which the deity was divided. The offering fee is ¥500.
筑前國一之宮 住吉神社 公式サイト
Ward off evil at the Star Gate, invite blessings at the Fortune Gate, and forge good connections at the Dream Gate. Walk the 50-meter approach path, offer a prayer at the Seven Lucky Children, and pray for safe travels at the main hall. Atop Hakata Station, a space of prayer awaits, perfectly suited for the start of a journey.
Tetsudo Shrine was born alongside the full opening of the Kyushu Shinkansen. The “god of safe transportation,” inherited from Sumiyoshi Shrine, continues to watch over travelers from this rooftop sanctuary.
Just a few minutes by elevator directly from Hakata Station, the access could not be easier. We highly recommend a visit to Hakata Tetsudo Shrine.
