❶March45MayJune

7October

4th-5th●Amagi Batabata Fair at
Anchoji Temple

Mid●New Year s Konomaruden Hall
Hyakunin Isshu Karuta Competition at
Eso Hachimangu Shrine

Early
●

Rapeseed Blossom Festival at Roadside Station Harazuru

The Day of Hatsuu●Kayu Dameshi(Harvest Fortune Ritual) at
Eso Hachimangu Shrine●●

4th Sunday●Dorouchi (Mud Throwing)Festival at Aso Shrine

Mid

Poppy Garden at
Kirin Flower Garden●Late

Cherry Blossom

・Amagi Park・Akizuki Castle Ruins
・Terauchi Dam・Yuzuki Shrine❷20thLate●Amagi Riverside
Fireworks EventMid●Hyakunin Isshu Asakura
CompetitionMid●Cosmos Garden at
Kirin Flower GardenMidHerb Festa in Harazuru

21st●HinashiroKunchi Festival❼

Late

Hinashiro Kunchi Festival

Children throw mud at the Daiguji (head priest of theshrine) after he drinks a large bowl of sake. The
amount of mud that sticks to the Daiguji indicates
how large the harvest will be that year.

Akizuki Hayashi Hand Cannon ❻ Oshiroi Festival

Eso Hachimangu
Shrine Shinko FestivalHarazuru Spa
Fireworks FestivalHyakunin Isshu
Asakura Competition(Mid-September)●①②⑤③⑥⑨⑧④⑦⑩⑫⑬⑭❾ Amagi
Bon-Niwaka Dance⓬⑮

Originating in 1699, Harakizaemon taught
children a dance to be performed at Gion
Shrine’s mountain-opening ceremony. The
children travelled to many villages toperform their dance, which was eventuallyturned into a Kabuki.

Herb Festa in Harazuru(Mid-October)

The Harazuru Herb Park is decorated withvarious colorful herbs and various events
are hosted in the park.

⓯ Takaki Seiryukan

LateMid●Asakura Welcome Festival,Harvest Festival❶ Sunflower Fair

Akizuki Castle Ruins Autumn Foliage

December 2nd⑤④③②⑥⑩❸⑦⑪d!
rounAll Ay!
urelLeisel!

Nearly 160,000 sunflowers come to fullbloom in the middle of September at theSunflower Park in front of Roadside StationHarazuru.

①★Events and dates are subject to change.

⑨⑧

Kirin Flower Garden(Kirin Beer Park Fukuoka)
Poppies bloom in the spring and approximately
ten million cosmos bloom in the fall at theregion’s best flower garden (factory tours
available).
3601 Mada, Asakura City
☎ 0946-23-2132⑫Persimmons, Pears, Grapes, Toyomitsuhime Figs,Hakata Green Spring Onions

Rapeseed Blossoms at❺Roadside Station“Harazuru”●The Asakura region is renowned for its delectable fruits. Blessed by clean water and air,the environment aids in producing the sweet, delicious fruits. Fruit picking season spansfrom summer to fall.
●Hakata Green Spring Onions are cultivated with pure water from the Chikugo River andrich, fertile soil. These environmental factors improve the quality and shelf life of the green
spring onions. The Amagi, Asakura, and Haki region is Japan’s largest green spring onion
producer, and the produce is named “Hakata Banno Negi”.
●The sweet, soft, and smooth Toyomitsuhime Figs that melt in your mouth are the best inthe prefecture.
Pork raised on a rice diet in Asakura City, Chikuzen.

The Rapeseed Blossom Festival is held in
mid-February. Enjoy the various eventsand first days of spring at Asakura!

Trav urakAsa❷ Amagi Park
Cherry Blossom

There are approximately four thousandcherry trees surrounding the lake at one ofFukuoka Prefecture’s best cherry-blossom
spots.
79 Bodaiji, Asakura City❹ Riverside Station Harazuru
Park-Golf Course
Located along Chikugo River, this park-golfcourse offers a great time for children andadults.
1833-10 Hakikugumiya, Asakura City☎ 0946-62-2828❼Asakura—Home of the❽Triple Waterwheel

yelicac’s Dkura

Asakura Donmai❾ Mountainside Station“Mt. Ote 2000 Year Park”

What is Asakura City’s regional specialty branding project?

The project promotes developing the region’s resources into viable
products. Often, these resources are items that locals use or eat
without realizing their external value.

Experience farming on top of the mountainand enjoy the excellent view. The sceneryat night is exceptionally astounding.
1-1164 Hakikoga, Asakura City☎ 0946-62-2535●Pear Picking●Apple Picking■Picking Season /August ~ November■Time / 30min~■Picking Season /August~November■Time / 30min~

Hiratsuka Kawazoe
Archeological Park

(National Historical Heritage)
This archeological park has turned up therare ruins of a moat settlement. The park
replicates a Yayoi era (300BC〜AD300)
forest for you to relax in and let time slip by.
4-444 Hiratsuka, Asakura City☎ 0946-21-7966

Amagi Water and❻
Cultural Village

The cultural facility brings you closer tow a t e r. W i t h p l a y g r o u n d e q u i p m e n t ,children and their parents will definitely
enjoy the park.
831 Yanotake, Asakura City
☎ 0946-25-0323

The farmers market is complete with alarge park and playground. Find produce
straight from the farms and play at the parkwith your children.
1-2192 Yamada, Asakura City
☎ 0946-52-9300

Asa

There are plenty ofother regional
specialties!!

⑪Participants paint their faces with a mixtureof rice powder and water. The following
year’s harvest depends on how much paintsticks to their faces.

Amagi Batabata Fair❽ (January 4th・5th)⓫⓮⓭
Kyosei-no-Sato

22ndUtilizing a former mountain school, thisfacility offers hands-on-learning experiences,training, and accommodations. Enjoy thebreathtaking sight of the beautiful, runningriver and mountain atmosphere.
4277 Sada, Asakura City
☎ 0946-29-0623

The Ogura Hyakunin Isshu’s first poem
written by Emperor Tenji reads:“Coarse the rush-mat roof
Sheltering the harvest-hut
Of the autumn rice-field;
And my sleeves are growing wet
With the moisture dripping through.”
Asakura City honors his poem by hosting anannual Hyakunin Isshu poetry competition.

The modern art museum utilizes a closed
mountain school. Come by to relax andexperience the joy of art.
1546-1 Kurokawa, Asakura City
☎ 0946-29-0590

Minagi Kunchi Festival(If the 22nd is aSunday, the religious ceremonies will be held andthe procession will be on the following Sunday)●(May 20th)

Kyushu’s first fireworks festival of the year,
the festival is Chikugo River’s first sign ofsummer. This festival is also held toindicate open season for cormorant fishingin the Chikugo River.

❿ Nagare Kanjo &Fireworks Festival

Held along Koishiwara River, participantsin the segaki ritual feed ghosts tormented
by hunger and pray for the safety of theirhousehold. The main event of the day isthe breathtaking fireworks festival andtemporary shops scatter the riverside toserve the multitudes of lively visitors.

●Akizuki Moon
Watching PartyMid

Eso Hachimangu Shrine
Harvest Festival●(October 21st)

The annual festival has been held since Tanetoki
Akizuki (Akizuki clan’s 14th generation)
reconstructed the shrine in 1509. The festival prays
for the health, safety, and rich harvests of the fivegrains (rice, wheat, foxtail millet, Japanese barnyardmillet, and beans).

❸ Amagi Gion Yamakasa ❹ Dorouchi (Mud Throwing)Festival (4th Sunday in March)
Aso Shrine(July 13th 〜15th)

This traditional Gion festival has been heldat Suga Shrine for nearly 300 years. The
tradition originated when people crafted aportable shrine that was carried aroundtown during the plague.

❺(December 22nd)(First Firing, Akizuki Spring Festival,Akizuki Moon Watching Party, Final Firing)

Oyamazumi Shrine

The Akizuki clan was known for its militaryprowess. To protect this heritage, thepreservation society puts on a handcannon shooting performance four times ayear.

Akizuki Spring Festival at Baien Park

AsakuraFolk Festival●Harazuru Spa Festival
Fireworks Event, Open Season for
Cormorant Fishing at Chikugo River

Yamada Dam Opening Ceremony●Amagi Gion Yamakasa at Suga ShrineMid13th-15th●Summer Festival &Fireworks EventMid●Sunﬂower Fair at
Roadside Station Harazuru

Mid●Amagi
Bon-Niwaka Dance●The batabata bean drums that are used inthe traditional event at Kanbokuzan
Anchoji Temple bring good health tochildren and safety to the household.

(3rd Sunday in October)

17thThe festival celebrates the good harvest of thefive grains. Performances include shishimailion dances, flutes, taiko drums, keyari (hairedspears), and Urayasu-no-Mai, which is a typeof traditional Kagura dance. There is even aparade from the shrine to the Kakurega-no-Mori(hideout forest).

13th-15th

●July

8

●Triple Waterwheel
Illumination

August9September

10

11

November

12●Oshiroi (Face Painting) Festival atOyamazumi Shrine

December

Regional Specialties & Fruit Picking

Early●April6

Poppy

Asakura Folk Festival

Feel and experience the energy emanatingfrom Asakura’s residents. The host various
events and activities include the JoohHimiko (Queen Himiko) contest, whose
winner serves to represent and promote
Asakura for that year.

Annual Events

1

January

2

February3

Rapeseed
Blossoms
CherryBlossomFireﬂies
Sunﬂowers
CosmosAutumnFoliage●Persimmon Picking●Grape Picking■Picking Season /■Picking Season /Mid-October~Beginning of December
Beginning of August~Mid-September■Time / 30min~■Time / 30min~●Strawberry Picking❿ Farm Station Basaro

Adjacent to Roadside Station Harazuru,Farm Station Basaro sells produce directlyfrom the farms. The fresh vegetables andsweet Shiwakaki (Shiwa persimmons)come highly recommended.
1665-1 Hakikugumiya, Asakura City☎ 0946-63-3888⓫ Firefly Watching

Renowned for its beautiful nature andwater, this region is Fukuoka Prefecture’s
best spot for firefly watching. The best
spots are along the Koishiwara and Sada
rivers that run through Asakura City. ComeJune, tens of thousands of fireflies begin toflicker and dance, putting on a spectacular
light show.

⓬ Amagi Shibori Dyeing

Originally known as Chikuzen Shibori, thisdyeing technique has a history that dates
back to the Edo period. Renamed in 1924,
it has since been sold as Amagi Shibori.

●Sweet Potatoes■Picking Season / January~May■Time / 30min~

Mid-October ~ Mid-November

Contact Information Asakura City Tourist Association

TEL. 0946ｰ24ｰ6758
28.3 30,000

Nobutaka Eri
Monument

Nobutaka Eri
Monument

Naruto Kannon

Asakura City Commerceand Tourism Department

Contact Information
TEL. 0946ｰ52ｰ1428 URL. http://www.city.asakura.lg.jp

Naruto Kannon

Rice StorehouseRuins(Akizuki Parking Lot)

Rice StorehouseRuins(Akizuki Parking Lot)

Asakura City
Tourist AssociationTEL. 0946ｰ24ｰ6758 URL. http://www.amagiasakura.net

Akizuki’s History

Koshinji Temple

First governed by Tanekatsu Akizuki, the Akizuki Clanruled the region from the beginning of the Kamakura
Period (12th century) for nearly 400 years. Their castle
was constructed on Mt. Kosho. Under the protection ofMotonari Mori, the 16th feudal lord Tanezane Akizuki
suffered as a child. As an adult, however, he became an
important warlord in northern Kyushu. Hideyoshi
Toyotomi uprooted Tanezane in his later years and ordered
him to move to Takanabe Castle located in the Hyuga
Province (currently Miyazaki Prefecture).

Time passed and Nagamasa Kuroda was awarded theChikuzen Province for his contributions in the Battle ofSekigahara. Becoming the first head of the Fukuoka
Domain, Nagamasa gave 12,000 koku of land in Akizuki toKanbe Kuroda’s (Nagamasa’s father) younger brother
Naoyuki Kuroda. A devote Christian, Naoyuki spread
Christianity in Akizuki. When Nagamasa passed, he left
50,000 koku of land to Nagaoki, his third son. In doing so,the Akizuki Domain became a sub-region of the Fukuoka
Domain.

ふくおか官兵衛くん

Home to the Kuroda Clan
Depicted in the Epic Drama!

To AmagiuteRoSites marked with a star have signs.
Kyushu Nature Trail

To Terauchi Dam
Ukiha CityHaseyamasas

yp

2B

32

Koi

shiNawtio

Persimmon Picking

Rara

R
nal

Pear Picking

iveoutr00

Prefectural Designated Cultural Asset

Products from the Asakura
Regional Product Development Project!

Uomachi

When the Kuroda clan was appointedto govern Fukuoka during the Edo
period, one of the samurai retainers
invented the “Kogetsu-Style” drum
performance. Meaning the “light ofmoon”, Kogetsu got its name from thefull moon casting a shadow of thedrummer and drumstick.

Hara Kosho
Saihin Grave
Bishamondo Temple

SainenjiTemple
Shin Sect

Megane(Spectacles) Bridge

Donmai Pork!

e5

Pear & Apple Picking

To Egawa Dam
Toho

Megane (Spectacles) Bridge

Ishida Residence

Route 322, Nakamachi

Prefectural DesignatedCultural Asset

AkizukiElementarySchool

Honshoji
TempleKogetsu Taiko (Drum)
Performance

Tsukimi Slope

Notori River(Kin River) Shunsaku Ogata’s
Residential RuinsＰAkizuki Bridge

Notori Bridge

Tsunenori Matsuda’s
Birthplace

Feudal School andTraining Grounds

Hisano Residence
Akizuki Samurai’sResidence

Akizuki Hachimangu Shrine

Akizuki Jr. High School
Martial Arts Hall

Token Kaibara’s
Birthplace

Hyakuhachiro Imamura

Cherry Blossom Spotasakuracity

Sugi-no-Baba St.

Kosho Gakuen

Tiled Slope

Akizuki Folk Museum

NotoriＰ

Travel in
AsakuraHitoshi Nakashima’s
One-Story Residential Ruins

AkizukiTsuguaki Tohara’s
Birthplace
Plant Dyeing

Akizuki Taiko’s
Art Museum Stone Seat

P WC
Rice Storehouse Ruins Kyodokanmae

Harakiri RockInformation Center

Dairyoji Soto Sect
Temple ChoshojiTemple
Jodo Sect

Plant Dyeing

Nagayamon Gate

AkizukiJr. High School

Kiln

Umezono Park

Pear Picking

Nisshoin Temple

Suiyo Shrine

Tendai Sect

Tozanguchi

To Kosho Trail

朝倉Koshinji Temple

Tanaka Tenmangu
ShrineMegane Bridge
Sainenji Temple
Samurai
Residence
Suiyo Shrine

Haseyama

Akizuki BATABATA Market

Kuromon Gate
Nagayamon Gate
Tiled Slope
Akizuki
Folk Museum
Akizuki
Parking Lot

Half-Day
半日コース
CourseAkizuki Handmade Washi(Japanese Paper)

Tanaka Tenmangu Shrine

Tokiyagura(Fukutake Castle Ruins)
Hideichi Bridge
Police Box
Mt. Kosho Temple
City Designated Cultural Asset
KuzuRuins
Former Tashiro Residence
Honpo
Plant Dyeing Nichiren Sect
Imakoji Bridge

Defensive Stone Walls
Asakura City Designated
Natural Monument,
Japanese Yew

Higiri Jizoin Temple
Akizukiyaki
Tachibana Kiln

WC

Suga Shrine

Akizuki
Post Office

Akizuki Public Hall
Heiyokan

Shin Sect

Rinzai Sect

WC

Ishida Residence

Higiri Jizoin
TempleSamurai
Residence
Suiyo Shrine
Kuromon Gate
Nagayamon Gate
Tiled Slope
Akizuki
Folk Museum
AkizukiParking Lot

Three Hour
CourseRice Storehouse
Ruins(Akizuki Parking Lot)
Kuromon Gate
Nagayamon Gate

Saifukuji Temple Ruins
Asakura City DesignatedInformation
Natural Monument,
CenterJapanese Yew

Tiled Slope
Akizuki
Folk Museum
Akizuki
Parking Lot

１時間コース
1Hour Course
Recommended
Walking Course
To Yasu Kogen
Kinen-no-Mori

Fudo
Waterfall

JokakujiTempleKuroda Clan’s Temple
Koshinji Temple

Tear Slope
New Haccho
Mountain Pass

Nobutaka Eri
Monument

Large Vehicle
Parking

Christian Bridge

NarutoKannonTanetoki Akizuki’s
Grave

DangoanPrefectural DesignatedCultural Asset
Heiyo Yoshida’s
Birthplace
Kuromon Gate
Prefectural DesignatedHankuro Tonami’s
Prefectural Designated
Historical Site
Residential Ruins
Cultural Asset
Akizuki Castle Ruins

Hakusangu Shrine

HakusanJinjamae

Arahira Castle Ruins

Resting PointTo Kama City Haccho Pass(Akizuki Kaido)

Honkakuji Temple

Kiln

The Akizuki Castle Town has a subtle history being home to the Akizuki andKuroda clans during the height of their rule, but the 800-year old town has
also experienced its share of history and tragedy. Latticework on windows
and doors, old samurai residences surrounded by clay moats, and mossed
stonewalls decorate the streets. The area has been appropriately named“Chikuzen’s Little Kyoto”.
Akizuki flourished as a castle town with 50,000 koku. One koku isapproximately 1000 sq. meters and is a unit measuring the yieldable crop of
the land. Even today, Akizuki’s history and antiquity are evident. Akizuki wasdesignated in April 1998 as a Nation’s Preservation District for Groups of
Traditional Buildings.

Ｐ
Mt. Hei
927m

Mt. Kosho
860m

Mt. Umami
978m

奥の院・大将かくしOkunoin
Temple, General’s Hideout
Mt. Kosho Castle Ruins
Mizufune SpringーTotaro Umegatani

Stop by and travel
around leisurely

国指定つげ原始林
Nationally
Designated, Virgin Boxwood Forest

Akizuki Castle Town

“This area has asurprisingly rich history!”