MiyagiLeisure

Tsutsujigaoka Tenmangu Shrine (榴岡天満宮)

Flow of the course

About 45 min here

About 15 min to the next stop

Next stop: Touch old ways of living in a Meiji-era wooden building inside the park

About this spot

This shrine adjoins the north side of Tsutsujigaoka Park (榴岡公園) and enshrines Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真), known as the deity of learning. Although it sits in central Sendai, it is surrounded by trees, and stepping into the precincts feels as though the air itself changes and grows quiet. Walking the stone paving, touching the water at the purification basin, ringing the bell and pressing your palms together makes an easy sequence of manners for a small child to remember. Haiku monuments and old stone objects are dotted around the precincts, so adults can stroll slowly and take them in. Since the park is a short walk away, it works well as a place to settle your mind at the start of the day.

Tips

The precincts are a quiet place, so it goes smoothly if you agree with children in advance not to run around. Checking the manners of worship together with the guide at the entrance is itself a learning experience. Mosquitoes can appear in summer, so insect repellent makes the visit more comfortable. Reception hours at the amulet counter vary by day, so come early if you would like a charm.