[2025 Hofu Attraction] Travel Guide for Hofu Tenmangu Shrine (Updated Jun)

📅 Itinerary Day1：visit the Yamaguchi Prefectural Art Museum follow by visiting Patisserie Anfield for cakes in the afternoon. Scroll along Ichinosaka River to enjoy the scenery. Check-in to the hotel to have a dip in the onsen follow by dinner at the local izakaya restaurant Day2: enjoy breakfast outdoor at THE BAKERS LOAF before heading of to visit the Hofu Tenmangu Shrine 🏨 Accommodation お宿Onn湯田温泉 🍴 Food Recommendations 魚standard 📌 Tips Most tourist attractions close early in the afternoon

Hofu Tenmangu Shrine is known as the first Tenmangu Shrine built in Japan, and enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning. Many worshippers from all over the country visit the shrine to pray for academic success and success in exams. It is also famous as a famous plum blossom viewing spot, with about 1,100 plum trees blooming in the spring. When I went in May, there were lots of flowers on the steps to the main shrine🌸 There is also free parking, so be sure to check it out!   ⸻ 🕒 Business hours • Opening hours: 6:00-20:00 • Prayer reception hours: 8:30-16:30 • History museum opening hours: 9:00-16:30 • Teahouse Hoshoan opening hours: 9:30-16:00    ⸻ 💴 Fees • Admission: Free • History museum admission fee: 800 yen for adults (600 yen for groups of 20 or more), free for high school students and younger • Teahouse Hoshoan admission fee: 800 yen (includes matcha and sweets) • * Garden tours are free • * Advance reservations required for groups of 5 or more   ⸻ 📍 Access • Address: 747-0029 14-1 Matsuzakicho, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture • Phone number: 0835-23-7700 • Train: Approximately 15 minutes on foot from JR Sanyo Main Line "Hofu Station" • Bus: Approximately 5 minutes on the bus bound for "Amidaji" from bus stop No. 2 at Tenjinguchi (north side) of Hofu Station, get off at "Hofu Tenmangu Shrine", then walk for approximately 3 minutes • Car: • Approximately 10 minutes from "Hofu East IC" or "Hofu West IC" on the Sanyo Expressway • Parking: Tenjinyama Park Parking (approximately 500 cars, free)    

#Spring0yenTrip Hofu is a town with a calm atmosphere, and I first visited Hofu Tenmangu Shrine. It is said to be the first Tenmangu Shrine in Japan, and the shrine building at the top of the stone steps is magnificent, and as befits the god of learning, there were rows of votive plaques for success in exams. From the shrine grounds you can look down on the town, and you can pray at your leisure in the calm air. Around Tenmangu Shrine, there are historic streets, small cafes and souvenir shops, and it was fun to walk around. There weren't many tourists, and the atmosphere of the shrine, which seemed to blend naturally into the lives of the local people, was comfortable. It's not flashy, but it's a place where you can feel the weight of history and the quiet charm of the area, and it was just the right town to spend a relaxing time.

At Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, there is a remarkable building called the Spring Breeze Pavilion. Elevated with an open-air design, this structure has an intriguing history. In 1822, the 10th lord of the Mori clan, Mori Takamochi, envisioned constructing a five-story pagoda to pray for peace in the area. However, by 1831, financial difficulties forced the project to halt. The design was later revised, transforming the pagoda into a wooden pavilion, which was completed in 1873. Over the past 150 years, the Spring Breeze Pavilion has become a prime spot for panoramic views of Hofu city. Its most distinctive feature lies in its foundation—crafted from the eaves and intricate wooden structures originally intended for the pagoda. Thanks to its elevated position and excellent ventilation, the pavilion has preserved its detailed carvings and layered architecture through the changing seasons for over a century. Visitors can enjoy the refreshing breeze as they ascend the pavilion, surrounded by a variety of seasonal flowers that offer stunning views year-round. 📍Address: 14-1 Matsuzakicho, Hofu, Yamaguchi 747-0029, Japan 🚗 A 15-minute walk from JR Hofu Station

Hofu Tenmangu Shrine is one of the three oldest Tenmangu Shrines, along with Kyoto Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, and Hofu Tenmangu Shrine. According to legend, when Sugawara no Michizane was banished to Dazaifu, Yamaguchi-Hofu was his last stop. It is said that when Michizane passed away, divine light appeared in Katsumama Bay in Hofu and auspicious clouds appeared on Mt. Sakadare. The local people believed that Sugawara no Michizane had returned, so they built the first Fuso Suga Temple, which later became Hofu Tenmangu Shrine. Sugawara no Michizane studied hard since he was young, and his family was loyal to the emperor, but he was framed and exiled to Dazaifu. After his death, strange signs fell from the sky in Kyoto, and finally the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine was built to appease the situation. Because he is revered as the god of learning, candidates enshrine Daruma tumblers here to pray for passing, smooth competitions and national examinations, creating a special spectacle. Another special thing is that Shaoxing wine and Taiwanese pineapples are offered in the worship hall. Because Tenmangu Shrine is about to hold a grand festival, with the help of Japanese companies, a cypress box donated by Chiayi County and private enterprises was officially placed in front of the worship hall a few days ago, becoming a link between Hofu Tenmangu Shrine and Taiwan. Hofu Tenmangu Shrine has collaborated with ANA to launch the Goshuin Book, as well as a limited edition Goshuin for the 1125 festival, the Love Shrine's Love Amulet, and the cute Haniwa Mikuji. It can be seen that the temple is very serious about attracting believers to come and worship. 📍Address: 〒747-0029 14-1 Matsuzaki-cho, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture 🚗It is a 20-minute walk from Hofu Station. There are very few buses. If you have enough time, take the bus to Amida-ji Temple and get off at Tenmangu Station. #MarchGoodPlaces2025

. #YamaguchiGourmet#HofuGourmet #YamaguchiLunch#HofuLunch #YamaguchiCafe#HofuCafe #Waka #LunchAndTeaWaka @waka3879 📍2-2 Niireimachi, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture ☎0835-28-1685 #ThisWakaSetMealOfTheWeek #ChickenNanban #LotusRootTartar #ChickenCutlet #PoundCake #BlackTea #CafeLatte I finally got to go to a restaurant I've been wanting to go to for ages٩( ᐖ )و٩( ᐖ )و As expected, it's a popular restaurant! I couldn't get a reservation for lunch, so I started lunch quite late. The wait time was long, and the staff were kind enough to talk to me many times. My dear mommy friend who came with me ᑦᑋᵃⁿ*✼ Thank you for always being with me. Let's go eat some delicious food again ꔛᡣ𐭩˒˒

. #YamaguchiGourmet #HofuGourmet #YamaguchiCafe #HofuCafe #THEDAILY @thedaily._hofu 📍2-5-18 Sennichi, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture ☎0835-28-1699 #WhiteDress #MatchaLatteEspresso #CafeLatte I wanted to eat Pavloa, but unfortunately it was sold out 🥲 Cheese Cream White Dress 🍓 This is also delicious ♪♬ヾ(´︶`*)ﾉ♬♪ I went out with my mommy friends for the first time in a while I've been feeling unwell for a while, but I was able to relax and chat a lot with my friends who are always stable and positive It was a really good day Thank you so much for everything The plum blossoms are in full bloom again this year at #HofuTenmangu Shrine I'm glad I was able to visit, thank you (*´ω｀人) thank you

#Domestic Travel Tips

Hofu Tenmangu Shrine is "Japan's first Tenmangu Shrine" and enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, who is revered as the god of learning. It is collectively known as the Three Great Gods of Japan along with Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto and Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka. You can see the last words of Takasugi Shinsaku, who highly praised Lord Suga. The New Year's Hatsumode (first visit to a shrine in the new year), the early spring plum blossom festival, and the Gojinkosai (Nakbo Festival) in November, which is known as the premiere festival in western Japan, are held. The festival activities are rich and colorful throughout the year, attracting many visitors and making it very lively. #2024TravelReview

Hofu Tenmangu Shrine ⛩️ 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 Hofu Tenmangu Shrine is said to be the first Tenjin shrine built in Japan. There are about 12,000 shrines dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane throughout the country, making it a historic shrine. It is also one of the three major Tenjin shrines in Japan. The deities enshrined are Sugawara no Michizane, Amenohohi no Mikoto, Takehi no Dori no Mikoto, and Nominosukune. You can see many cow🐃 statues associated with Michizane. The magnificent tower gate and worship hall were wonderful. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Hofu Tenmangu ꕥAddress: 14-1 Matsuzakicho, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉 Hofu Station → approx. 24 minute walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #0 yen travel autumn #shrines and temples #shrine visit #shrine tour #shrine #Yamaguchi sightseeing #Yamaguchi trip

This is "Hofu Tenjin Mochi", a gourmet food that can be enjoyed on the approach to Hofu Tenmangu Shrine in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. At a shop on the approach to Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, tenjin mochi baked from a baking mold is sold for 150 yen each. There are three types. They have "white mochi", "mugwort", and the summer-only "summer orange", but I chose the classic "white mochi". This is a gourmet food that you can enjoy on the go, eating freshly baked mochi! Business hours are Thursday to Sunday 9:30 to 16:00. About 1.5km from JR "Hofu Station" "Hofu Specialty Tenjin Mochi" 12-14 Matsuzaki-cho, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture 747-0029 #Yamaguchi gourmet #Yamaguchi sweets #mochi #Hofu specialty #Hofu gourmet #Hofu sweets #Yamaguchi sightseeing #Yamaguchi trip #Furitabi

There are about 12,000 shrines dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane across the country, but Hofu Tenmangu Shrine is said to be the first to be built. Hofu Tenmangu Shrine is one of the three great Tenjin shrines of Japan, along with Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto and Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka. It is about 1.6km from JR Hofu Station. We recommend renting a bicycle at the station! Opening hours are 6:00am to 8:00pm. Hofu Tenmangu Shrine 14-1 Matsuzakicho, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, 747-0029 #Yamaguchi #Hofu #Shrine #YamaguchiTourism #YamaguchiTrip #HofuWalk #FuriTabi

Hofu Tenmangu in Yamaguchi Prefecture! ⁡ I've been wanting to see these stairs for years💕 ⁡ Do you know that the flowers on the stairs say "Shiawasemasu"? ? ⁡ "Shiawasemasu" is a Yamaguchi dialect word that includes the meaning of "I'm happy. I'm delighted. It helps me. I'm grateful."✍️ ⁡ It's also used to say "I'll be happy if you do this for me"📧 ⁡ Hofu Tenmangu is one of the three Tenjin shrines in Japan, along with Kitano Tenmangu in Kyoto and Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka, so I hope it becomes a little more well-known🥲 ⁡ You can see these flower characters from mid-April to mid-May (planned)! ⁡ #event #YamaguchiTourism #YamaguchiTrip