"Dazaifu Tenmangu is the first and most important of several hundreds of shrines built and dedicated to the spirits of Sugawara Michizane, an influential scholar and politician of the Heian Period, who has later been identified with Tenjin, the kami ("Shinto god") of education. After a spectacular political career, Michizane was unfairly exiled from Kyoto to Dazaifu, where he died a few years afterwards. A series of natural disasters, which followed Michizane's death, were interpreted as a consequence of exiling him unfairly, and the shrine was built on top of his grave in order to please his spirits.

"There are about 6000 plum trees (ume), Michizane's favorite kind of tree, on the precincts of Dazaifu Tenmangu, including tobiume ("flying plum tree"), a tree which is said to have followed Michizane into exile by flying from Kyoto to Dazaifu. It now stands on the right side in front of the shrine's main hall."

Dazaifu Temple in Fukuoka was a good place to view the plum and cherry blossoms. Photos from the surrounding area show some of the activities. The trained Snow Monkey was one of two we saw that first full day in Japan. The barrels are rice offerings. The little girl seems to be the daughter of a family that runs a couple of booths. We can only assume this booth is a place small children can play for a fee. The long row of stalls sell prayers and offerings the devout can then present at the shrine.