Today i will write about Dazaifu (太宰府)
It is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Some of you were a bit confused from my previous posts so i think i should re-clarify :
Fukuoka is not in Tokyo. It is 2.5hrs by plane from Tokyo. [16hrs by bus]
Dazaifu is about 45mins by train from Hakata train station [2 train changes]

Dazaifu-shi is famous for a shrine here [Dazaifu Tenmangu]
As with most large shrines/temples in Japan, there is always a long shopping street before you get there.

This is Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando 太宰府天満宮参道

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is heavily visited by students praying for exam success so there are many stores targeted at students such as toy stores [as below]

The store below sells many Studio Ghibli items.

There are stores selling traditional items too

Stoneware

Souvenirs

Traditional clothes

Local produce/delicacy

I always want to share some “inside” spots with you that you cant find in tourist books.
At the first junction of the shopping street, turn to your left [facing towards shrine] and you will find a store selling steamed meat buns [takeout only]

It is super famous [u can see it covered in signatures from celebrities]

If you get lost, visit the local tourism centre. its directly opposite [see the big yellow signboard below]

The bun is VERY juicy and yummy. [its pork so i do apologise in advance for those of you who dont eat pork/meat]

If you dont eat pork/meat, dont worry! Dazaifu is EXTREMELY famous for a sweet snack known as umegae-mochi, a red bean-paste cake.
There are soooo many stores selling it [like 80% of the stores in this street XD]

I wanna be all cool and claim i did the research etc but i didnt lol
The thing is , despite the 39388485 stores there, only 1 store has a queue.
AND its a CRAZY LONG queue.

The store name is KASANOYA.

Luckily the workers there move like clockwork and the queue moves fairly quick. [but the queue behind never ends lol]

It was YUMMY [i bought a box home. more pics of my souvenir haul in next post]

An unexpected feature of this beautiful street is the uber modern Starbucks store here.

It is one of the most unconventional Starbucks i have ever been to

Here’s the counter inside

Rest of the store

We enjoyed a lovely break in here

Next post, will write about Dazaifu Tenmangu [the shrine]

In other news, I am currently in Sapporo! its about 1hr 45mins from Tokyo via plane and will be here for about a week Today is my first day here and I am in Noboribetsu Onsen Town.
I have internet access though so i’ll still be blogging and postings tons on instagram [follow me please at yumeko55]
Till then!
XOXO Yumeko
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