Kyushu National Museum – A Complete Travel Guide
Did you know there are only 4 national museums in total in Japan; with the Kyushu National Museum (九州国立博物館) being the latest? The Kyushu National Museum is the latest addition to the list of monumental national museums in Japan; the other three are in Tokyo (東京), Kyoto (京都) and Nara (奈良). While the former three museums were constructed during the 1800s, this one has a distinction of being completed in the 21st century (2005 to be precise).
Because of this, the opening of the museum is seen as an eventful occassion among locals. It is also currently the only national museum that is located in the small town of Dazaifu (大宰府) rather than a major city; making it even more special. In today’s post, lets take a look at what this modern museum has to offer.
- How to I get to the museum from Dazaifu Tenmangu?
- What is the concept behind the museum’s architecture and why Dazaifu was chosen as the site of the museum?
- What does the interior look like and are there any exhibitions for kids?
- What are the exhibitions of the museum like?
- What is the significance of Dazaifu and how did it impact the history of Japan?
- What are the options to travel to Dazaifu city?
Table of Contents
Exploring the Kyushu National Museum
From Dazaifu Tenmangu to the Kyushu National Museum
The Kyushu National Museum is around 10 minutes walking distance from the Dazaifu train station. On the way, don’t forget to stop by the famed Dazaifu Tenmangu before continuing on towards the museum. To continue on towards the museum, head towards the area in the shrine complex with the two arch bridges and the single flat brige. After crossing them, instead of heading towards the main shrine complex, turn right and continue straight on. Then, look out on the right side for the below entrance with a signboard at the side that says the ‘Kyushu National Museum’.
The museum’s official website also contains clear directions on navigating towards the museum. Also if you are travelling during summer like me, be sure to bring an umbrella, sunglasses and some sunblocks as well as there are minimal shades along the way and the sun is scorching at this time. Take the escalator upwards and then pass through the Rainbow Tunnel; featuring LED lights that will change into red, blue, green and purple colours as we move along. After crossing the tunnel, we will reach the main entrance itself.
A plus point if you visit during summer however, is that you can witness the elegant lotus flowers blossom at a nearby lake (my personal favourite flowers simply for their design and vibrant pink colour). The best time to witness them is between July and August every year.
Kyushu National Museum Architecture and Location
Firstly, lets take a look at its unique architecture. It features a rather striking and futuristic design that you simply can’t miss. Covering the walls are the indigo glass panel together with the blue curvy roofs on the top. The glass panels serve to reflect the beauty and the serenity of the surrounding forest trees together with the mesmerising blue sky. This unique design incorporates and harmonise a futuristic structure together with mother nature; fleshing out the contrast and beauty of both sides. For an extra fact, Kyushu National Museum was designed by Kikutake Kiyonori (菊竹清訓), who is renowned in fusing both megastructures organic biological growth in his designs.
Now you may be asking; while the other three museums are located in large cities, why was a measly small town like Dazaifu (大宰府) selected as the site for the fourth national museum? Simply put, the island of Kyushu (九州) once served as a bridge and a pitstop for foreign ambassadors visiting Japan. The capital back then was Kyoto (京都), which is located in Central Japan. And also, Kyushu is much nearer to mainland China and the Korean peninsula. So it made much more sense for ambassadors to land of Kyushu first, prior to visiting the capital.
And to facilitate this, the imperial government established Dazaifu as the administrative centre. Dazaifu is also the home of Dazaifu Tenmangu (太宰府天満宮), a renowned shrine that serves as the resting place for the famed politician and scholar, Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真). To learn more about this famous shrine, be sure to check out my separate article here. Given its historical significance, it is no surprise that the government decided to establish the national museum here.
Entering the Kyushu National Museum
Enter the museum and we will first witness the spacious entrance hall of the museum. The entrance hall features information counters for those wishing to learn more about the museum and benches to rest after all that walking (most importantly of course is air-conditioning, especially when you want to escape the heat of the sun during summer).
For the fans of architecture, pay close attention to the use of cedar woods at the ceiling. The woods serve a unique purpose to dampen the effects of an earthquake. And this is because wood is naturally elastic and lighter than concrete; being able to flex and return to their natural shape in the event of an earthquake.
Also on the same floor, there is the Ajippa (あじっぱ), featuring a mini collection of ornaments, costumes, musical instruments and even puppets from other Asian and European countries. While the exhibition is more tailored for kids, I personally find it amusing to see some familiar ornaments from my neighbouring South East Asian countries. A nice touch here is the addition of English descriptions to the exhibits; given the rarity of English translations in many tourist spots around Japan.
Checking out Kyushu National Museum's Main Exhibitions
The main exhibition is on the 4th floor as it features a comprehensive display of artefacts from the pre-historic era to the 1800s. In fact, the area here consists of 5 sections:
- The Palaeolithic and Jomon periods (the prehistoric era)
- The Yayoi and Kofun periods (Japan’s Bronze and Iron Age)
- The Nara and Heian period (the time when arts and religion flourished)
- The Kamakura, Muromachi and Azuchi Momoyama periods (the era of warlords)
- The Edo period (the last era of the samurai before Japan’s infamous modernisation)
The exhibition area itself is spacious and the crowd was small during my time of visit; allowing plenty of personal space to enjoy admiring the collections at my own pace. And the peacefulness of the area certainly helps in learning and immersing into the story behind each artefacts.
Also, this place is a haven for history buffs, as it exhibits a variety of artefacts including refined calligraphy and water paintings, weapons, intricate Buddhist artworks and sculptures, tea kettles and ceramics and many more. There is even a giant anchor on display that originated from a Mongol ship that tried to invade Japan in the 13th century. Unfortunately, the museum does not allow photography in this section.
The Kyushu National Museum also organises special exhibitions from time to time at the 3rd floor. Be sure to check out the museum’s website to find out more about their special exhibitions before paying a visit.
Dazaifu - The Western Capital
As we explore the 4th floor, pay close attention to the beautiful miniature that is outside of the exhibition area. This is a miniature of the former government office in Dazaifu (大宰府政庁) and it represents the magnificence of the former capital during its prime days. Dazaifu itself was founded 1,300 years ago and was a focal point for foreign visitors to gather due to its close proximity to the mainland.
Because of this, various cultural exchanges and trade occur in the city itself which lead to its rapid development over time. At its peak, it served as the 2nd capital of Japan alongside Kyoto. The gate here is the grand South Entrance where foreign visitors and envoys would pass through to enter and pay their respects to the local government.
While this is a little off-topic from today’s article, it is important to highlight the significance of this little town in Japanese history as the city that welcomed foreign influences in the past. So much so that the government in Kyoto at that time called it ‘The Distant Capital in the West’. The miniatures themselves are quite detailed and certainly do give a good idea of the magnificence of Dazaifu during its peak.
Getting There
The Kyushu National Museum is located at Dazaifu and the most convenient way to access Dazaifu is via Fukuoka (福岡), as it is only approximately 30 minutes away via train ride. Fukuoka is well-connected by expressways and rails; and the city’s main train station is Hakata Station (博多駅). Both the JR Rail Pass and the JR Kyushu Rail Pass are worth considering if you are intending to travel extensively across cities in Japan. These passes offers the convenience to travel across cities and also opportunities to save cost as well. The former covers the JR lines across the entire country; while the latter is more suitable for those travelling around cities in the island of Kyushu only. Check out JR Rail’s website to learn more about these handy passes.
By Train
The most convenient option is to board the Nishitetsu Railway (西鉄) from Tenjin station (天神駅) in Fukuoka. Board the train along the Nishitetsu-Tenjin-Omuta line (西鉄天神大牟田線) for 15 minutes and transit at Nishitetsu Futsukaichi Station (西鉄二日市駅). Afterwards, board the Nishitetsu Dazaifu line (太宰府線) for 5 minutes and disembark at Dazaifu Station (太宰府駅). A one-way train ride will cost about 420 Yen. If you are from Hakata Station (博多駅), you will need to board a subway train to Tenjin station. Refer here on how to get to the Kyushu National Museum from Dazaifu train station.
Consider getting yourself a Nimoca Card if you are planning to use the bus and trains around Fukuoka as it saves you a hassle to grab your wallet just to get the little changes to pay for the rides. Alternatively, there is also the Fukuoka Tourist City Pass which offers unlimited rides on trains, buses and subways in Fukuoka, as well as providing special privileges at various tourist facilities.
By Bus
Another option is to catch the Dazaifu Liner Bus, Tabito (旅人) from Hakata Station (博多駅) to Dazaifu. The buses operate frequently on a daily basis and departs from Hakata Bus Terminal 1F Bus Stop No.11 (博多バスターミナル１Ｆ (１１のりば)). The journey takes around 40 minutes and the fare is 610 Yen for one-way. An alternative for those who prefer the direct approach, though I personally would opt for the train simply to catch those scenic countryside views.
By Car
For those who are planning a road trip in Japan to explore the countryside, Dazaifu is also easily accessible via road. Kyushu National Museum contains around 300 parking lots for those who are driving. Each entry costs 500 Yen which is also payable via the Nimoca Card.
And speaking of driving, a friend of mine used Tocoo; Japan’s leading rental car website which is reliable and provides a wide selection of cars, ranging from small economical cars to the larger family cars. Tocoo offers comprehensive and elaborate guides especially for those who are going to drive for the first time in Japan. Click here to embark on a wonderful journey of driving through the countryside of Japan.
Admission Details
Opening time for the museum is from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm daily. Do take note however that the museum is closed on Mondays. However in the occasion there is a special exhibition in the museum, the closing time will be extended to 8.00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. For more info, please visit the official website of the museum.
Entrance fee per pax to the exhibition hall itself is as below:
- Adults: 700 Yen
- University Students: 300 Yen
- Visitors under 18 and above 70 years old: Free
- For entrance to special exhibitions, visitors will need to pay an additional entrance fee to visit. Refer to the museum’s official website for more info.
Overall Thoughts
If you are looking for a short and sweet destination to visit, consider checking the museum together with the nearby Dazaifu Tenmangu. Its easy to navigate and while its exhibitions are slightly smaller than the other national museums, it makes up for it with its tranquility and unique modern architecture (plus a great place to stop by to escape the scorching heat during summer).
Also, if you love to discover more hidden gems within Japan, be sure to subscribe as I will be sharing more fascinating gems of Japan in the near future.
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