Guide precincts

The main sanctuary was built in 1827 with donations from supporters. The main shrine enshrines Sukunahikona and Sugawara Michizane. In 901, Sugawara Michizane was on his way to his new post in Fukuoka. Partway at Hattori, he could no longer walk due to a leg ailment. He prayed for the recovery of his leg and paid deep respect to the divinity of Sukunahikona. His leg gradually recovered and he left Hattori and arrived safely at Dazaifu, Fukuoka. After his death in 903, the Tenjin faith (which pays deep respect to Sugawara Michizane as a divinity) spread all over the country. Villagers brought the divinity of Sugawara Michizane and set up the “Hattori Tenjingu Shrine”. The reputation of Hattori Tenjingu Shrine grew during the Edo period and has kept up to the present day.

In 1950, Mr Torii (the founder of Suntory Holdings) had an Inari Sanctuary in his home. When his house was refurbished, his private sanctuary was moved to the Hattori Tenjingu Shrine at the same location as his serving chief priest. As there is an association between money and legs, (since money can move around the world as if it has grown legs) the divinity of Ebisu was brought from Nishinomiya Shrine and an Ebisu sanctuary was established in 1950. The people and businesses in the region inaugurated the Hattori Ebisu association and started holding the Hattori Ebisu ceremony since 1951. In 2003, the name of the ceremony was renamed to Toyonaka Ebisu ceremony. As many as 350.000 people have attended the ceremony. In 2017, the Ebisu sanctuary was newly rebuilt.

At the beginning of the Edo period (17C), an Inari sanctuary was set up for the divinity of Uka-no-mitama (Deity of Food and Agriculture). In 1977, the divinity of twelve horary signs were brought from Fushimi Inari shrine to Hattori Tenjingu Shrine. There’s a small Inari sanctuary added by the former chief priest some forty years ago, with a characteristic vermilion torii (sacred entrance gate) tunnel. This Inari sanctuary is unusual as there are twelve smaller sanctuaries for each of the twelve zodiac animals.

There is a collection of many Japanese straw sandals dating back several hundred years to the Edo period. These sandals were left by worshippers in gratitude for the alleviation of leg and foot issues.

This sanctuary features a spirit shelf for ancestral spirits and a spirit shelf for the war dead. The right shelf is for the parishioners of Hattori Tenjingu Shrine and the left one is a sanctuary of parishioners who died in the war. We serve a ceremony at their sanctuaries twice a year.

This is the statue of Sugawara Michizane (a poet, scholar and politician in 9c). Since Michizane recovered from his leg problems here and arrived safely in Dazaifu, visitors rub the statue with the hope that the injured leg will be healed.

Fujiwara Uona (721-783) was a member of the Fujiwara clan and occupied the position of Minister in the ancient Japanese court. He is revered as the ancestor deity of Japanese cuisine by people in the food industry.

In order to receive protection, please remove your shoes and offer two bows, two claps and one bow. After that, sit on the stone and pray for the protection of your legs.