The “Koi Sando” (pathway to love) leading to the shrine is covered with heart-shaped ceramic plates, and heart-shaped designs are also on the temple crest, amulets, omikuji (omikuji), and ema (votive picture tablet)!
The shrine precincts, surrounded by an abundance of heart-shaped motifs, is truly a power spot for the fulfillment of love!
The Koinoki Torii (gateway to the shrine) says, “May you be blessed with an abundance of love and find happiness through a wonderful relationship! The Koinoki Torii gate is said to be enveloped in that wish!.
Koinoki Shrine is located in the Chikugo area of southern Fukuoka Prefecture and is known to hold the “god of happy marriage and happiness,” the “god of love,” and of power to fulfill love.
Koinoki-jinja Shrine has been located since the mid Kamakura period (1192-1333) as a branch of Mizuta Tenmangu Shrine (a shrine attached to the main shrine), and is the only Koinoki-jinja Shrine in Japan that enshrines “Koi no Mikoto,”(godess of love) making it very rare in Japan.
It is said that the shrine was built to comfort the soul of Sugawara Michizane, who was thoughtful of the emperor and his wife and children in the capital until he passed away in Dazaifu.
The Koi Sando (approach to love) and the floor of the temple are covered with traditional Mizuta Tenmangu Kiln Mizuta pottery, making it a popular place to pray for a good marriage or have a wedding ceremony. Koi Sando is a path leading to Koinoki Shrine. It is a “path of love,” so to speak. Many have walked this path in the power of love.
In the precincts of the shrine, there is a rare tree called “Goyen Kusunoki” and a “Couple Kusunoki” commemorating the marriage of Emperor Imajo. It is said that the two Kusunoki trees have grown into one tree thanks to the spirit of Koinoki Shrine.
It is said that a heart-shaped beehive was formed on the camphor tree at one time, and is now kept in the amulet-giving place.
It is said that turning left, right, and left around this 600-year-old tree grants a person happiness..
“Various events are held throughout the year at Koinoki Shrine, such as the “”Happy Marriage Fulfillment Festival””, the “”Ema Dedication Festival””, and the “”Koi Musubi Festival””.. Koinoki Shrine is a power spot that should be visited by all those seeking a happy and healthy marriage.”
A little further away, you will find Funagoya Hot Springs, Funagoya River Station Funagoya Koi Botaru, and many other hot springs, as well as fun tourist spots such as Kyushu Geibunkan, Aika Tanaka Kasuri Workshop, and Funagoya Blueberry Farm. Please be sure to visit these places as well.
It takes about 1 hour from Hakata Station by train and bus.

Koinoki Shrine
Location: 62-1 Mizuta, Chikugo City, Fukuoka 833-0027
phone number: 0942-53-8625
Hours: Free to visit (shrine office open from 9:00 to 17:00)
https://www.mizuta-koinoki.jp/koinoki/index.shtml

Cover photograph provided by　福岡県観光連盟