Hotel CULTIA Dazaifu

Delve Deeper and Connect with the Imperial Court of the Far East

Concept

Explore Dazaifu, ancient Japan’s Western Capital, in a heritage hotel located next to the Dazaifu Tenman-gu, a Shinto shrine devoted to Sugawara-no-Michizane, a Japanese poet and scholar who was granted godhood after his death, at which time his name was changed to Tenjin. Take a pilgrimage through the Tenjin faith, centered on this god of learning, and explore Japanese history while enjoying all the comforts of home. At Hotel CULTIA Dazaifu, you will stay in private residences that have been carefully preserved and passed down over the centuries by the Yoshitsugu family of artists and priests, who have been active in the city since the Edo period (1603–1867). While featuring modern amenities, the accommodations retain the quiet majesty of traditional Japan, transporting guests to a time when Dazaifu served as an imperial-court outpost connecting Japan and Asia.

Discover Dazaifu

Called the Imperial Court of the Far East during the Nara period (710–94), Dazaifu was originally established as a defense base on the island of Kyushu and was transformed over time into an imperial-court office and a major political, cultural, and economic center. Enjoying prosperous relations with the Asian mainland since ancient times, Dazaifu has long served as Japan’s gateway to the rest of Asia, welcoming cutting-edge technology, ideas, and foreign envoys from the continent. During the Edo period, a visit to Dazaifu Tenman-gu and nearby places of interest became one of the most popular pilgrimages in the country.

Expand Your Itinerary

Located just a short trip from Fukuoka, which is Kyushu’s main city and transportation hub, Dazaifu can be the first step on a journey to the heart of Japan’s ancient lands. Take this opportunity to visit iconic locales like Kumamoto Castle, a beautiful and mighty fortress completed in 1607, which has ties to famous historical figures like swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi. For hiking and other activities in nature, there is the Takachiho Gorge, a valley of sheer cliffs, resembling dragon scales, that were formed by the Gokase River. Get up close to nature and the gorge’s majestic Manai Falls in a rental rowboat. To actually dip into the waters of Kyushu, travel to Beppu and relax in one of the city’s many onsen (hot springs).

Our Story

Although Dazaifu attracts over ten million visitors a year, most of them are day-trippers who, despite their best intentions, never come close to seeing everything this amazing city has to offer. To give travelers the chance to forge deeper connections with the city and the time to uncover its mysteries, Hotel CULTIA Dazaifu has refurbished buildings of historic value and turned them into accommodations with access to educational activities and tours. This idea is expressed in our name, CULTIA, which is derived from the word “culture,” and in our logo, which is based on a gate motif in reference to Kyushu’s role as the gateway to brand-new worlds since the Yayoi period (ca. 300 BC–AD 300).

Tangible History

Kokouan: Formerly the Yoshitsugu family residence, which was built during the Meiji period (1868–1912), Kokouan today houses the hotel’s reception, dining room, and guestrooms. “Kokou” comes from another name for plum blossoms, a symbol of Dazaifu. Located less than a minute’s walk from Dazaifu Tenman-gu, Kokouan offers insights into Japanese architecture from 150 years ago as well as lovely seasonal views of the hotel garden.

Koukotei and Baika: These two buildings were added to the hotel in 2021. Located just a three-minute walk from Dazaifu Tenman-gu, the structures stand in an area that once served as the Shinto shrine’s kitchen, where seafood and the bounty of the mountains were received and then delivered to the priests. The ornate windows and woodwork give Koukotei and Baika a sophisticated look that evokes the centuries-old spirit of Dazaifu.

Rooms

Hotel CULTIA Dazaifu offers thirteen rooms that reflect the accumulation of time. Sooty walls and ceilings, discolored clay walls, and scratched pillars have been left in their original state as testaments to the fact that real people have lived and influenced history in these surroundings. A hotel can feel like a home as long as guests can look around a room and recognize the presence of past lives in the windows, straw mats, earthen floor, porch, and wood, all conveying the remarkable history of Dazaifu. A stay at Hotel CULTIA Dazaifu is not only a journey into the heart of Kyushu culture but also a realization of what true luxury is.

Restaurants & Dining

Le Un: We invite you to savor a timeless feast surrounded by the splendor of Meiji-period architecture at the Le Un restaurant. Comprising Kyushu delicacies from the fertile lands of Fukuoka Prefecture and the waters of the Genkai Sea, the refined dishes served at Hotel CULTIA Dazaifu pay homage to the exalted history of Japan’s ancient Western Capital. Lunch consists of light French cuisine made from locally sourced ingredients and is served in the Kokouan building. Dinner is a banquet of gastronomical discoveries full of the rich flavors of local meats and fish served in eye-catching creations. For guests with a sweet tooth, we recommend our delightful afternoon tea featuring traditional scones and carefully selected blends of tea and coffee.

Capacity: 44 seats and 1 private room
Opening Hours:
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (L.O. 2:00 p.m.)
Café: 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (L.O. 4:00 p.m.)
Dinner: 5:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m. (L.O. 8:00 p.m.)

Cultural Experiences

Nighttime Prayer: Enjoy exclusive access to Dazaifu Tenman-gu after the gates have been closed to regular worshippers. During this experience, available only to hotel guests, Shinto priests will lead you to the quiet and sacred shrine building where a purification rite will be performed accompanied by the ringing of bells that echo through the hall.

Morning Worship: Gather at the shrine at 8:30 a.m. to recite words of purification and pay your respects to Sugawara-no-Michizane, the deity of learning. The morning ceremony is a great way to cleanse your mind and body for a good start to your day.

Kyushu National Museum Night Tour: Considered one of the four great museums of Japan, the 30,000-square-meter Kyushu National Museum examines and exhibits the formation of Japanese culture from an Asian perspective, showcasing invaluable artifacts from the Paleolithic Age to the modern period. During the night tour, museum staff will give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the exhibition rooms for a better understanding of how Kyushu preserves Japanese history and culture.

Our Difference

Standing at the crossroads of Japan’s history and culture, Dazaifu is a magnificent place where the long flow of time meets majestic architecture, the bounty of Japan’s ancient lands, and breathtaking nature. Hotel CULTIA Dazaifu is honored to house guests in the midst of all this splendor. While we believe that the city is the perfect place to visit all year round, we encourage you to stay with us around February and March when the 6,000 plum trees at Dazaifu Tenman-gu paint the shrine grounds in white and crimson.

Welcome

Our mission is to present our guests with the gift of time. Time that seems to flow endlessly through the nature and culture of Japan. Time set aside to make lifelong memories with your loved ones. Time that you will one day reflect back on with a smile. We strive to give you these experiences through the art of Japanese hospitality, the distinctiveness of accommodations that tell rich stories from Japan’s great past, and the breaking of language barriers by our English-speaking staff. We hope to see you soon.

Number of rooms: 13
Capacity: 2–4 guests per room
Check-in: 3:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Checkout: until noon
Languages: Japanese & English
Tel: +81 (0)120-210-289