Our First New Year Shrine Visit as a Married Couple at “Kashii Shrine”
This article may contain product promotions.
Information is as of publication and may be outdated.
The New Year of our first year of marriage.
For our first shrine visit of the year, we went together as a couple to Kashii Shrine, located in Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City.
Kashii Shrine is known as the “Shrine for Couples” and is a historic Shinto shrine.
It is said to have been founded around the year 200 and is recognized as one of a small number of important imperial shrines in Japan. As a place where couples pray for a long and happy marriage, it felt like the perfect destination for our first New Year visit together.
A Spacious, Quiet Shrine That Brings Peace of Mind
As soon as we stepped onto the shrine grounds, we were surprised by how large and green the area was. Unlike crowded New Year shrine visits, Kashii Shrine has a calm atmosphere where you can walk slowly and pray at your own pace.
After praying, we drew omikuji (fortune slips) to see what the year ahead might bring. Sharing that moment side by side became a small but meaningful memory for us.
Highlights of Kashii Shrine: The Gate, Main Hall, and Sacred Tree
One of the first things you notice at Kashii Shrine is the impressive two-story shrine gate.
The main hall, rebuilt more than 200 years ago, is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. Its architecture follows a rare style known as “Kashii-zukuri”, giving the building a quiet and dignified presence.
Within the shrine grounds, you can also find:
- The large sacred tree known as Ayasugi
- A peaceful iris pond
These features make Kashii Shrine a place where you can not only pray, but also feel a deep sense of Japanese history and tradition.
A Short Break with Amazake and Umegae Mochi
After our visit, we stopped by the rest area inside the shrine grounds.
There were stalls selling umegae mochi, as well as a traditional rest house with a historic atmosphere.
At the rest area, I bought a cup of amazake (a traditional sweet rice drink). You can choose cold, room temperature, or hot. I chose the hot one, which cost 300 yen. It gently warmed my body and was perfect after a winter shrine visit. My wife doesn’t like amazake, so she skipped it this time (laughs).
Since we were visiting a shrine known as the “Shrine for Couples,” we also bought a pair of matching couple amulets. They were very cute.
Access & Useful Tips
Kashii Shrine is easy to reach by public transportation.
- Free parking available (quite spacious)
*However, there was a lot of dust, so we definitely needed a car wash afterward (laughs). - Restrooms: Located next to the parking area
| Name | Kashii Shrine (Shrine for Couples) |
| Access | About a 15-minute walk from JR Kagoshima Line “Kashii Station” About a 5-minute walk from JR Kashii Line “Kashii-jingu Station” About a 15-minute walk from Nishitetsu “Kashii-miyamae Station” |
| Contact | Kashii Shrine Official Website |
Conclusion: Perfect for a Calm New Year Visit as a Couple
Kashii Shrine is an ideal place for those who want a New Year shrine visit that focuses on calmness and a sense of history rather than crowds. Visiting together as a married couple in our first year of marriage made it a truly special experience.
If you want to avoid crowds and start the New Year with a peaceful state of mind, or if you’re a couple looking to begin the year thoughtfully together, this shrine is highly recommended.
