Hakata Culture vol.191

Kego Shrine and Kego Park: An Oasis in the Heart of the City

　

Kego Shrine and Kego Park are well-known as places where you can relax in Tenjin in downtown Fukuoka City. Due in part to their location next to Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station, there is always a constant flow of people through the shrine and the park. Kego Shrine was relocated to its present location in 1608. The shrine was built by Nagamasa Kuroda, the first lord of the Fukuoka Domain, and has served as a place of worship for local people over the generations. The torii gate that remains today was erected in 1639 by Tadayuki Kuroda, the second lord of the domain.

The Kego Shrine grounds are not very large, but they are home to several magnificent camphor trees that are said to be over 300 years old. There are many things to see here, including the stately main shrine, which retains its Edo era feel, several old lanterns dedicated anywhere between two and 400 years ago, and the Imamasu Inari Shrine with a rare smiling fox statue standing guard out front. There is even a footbath on site, perfect for soothing your tired feet after a long day of walking.

In the fall of 2022, a new nine-story shrine office opened. While the building serves as a new-and-improved shrine office, it also has storage space for the portable shrine and ritual implements that used to be kept in rental warehouses as well as space for exhibiting votive ema (wooden tablets) dating as far back as the mid-Edo period. Kego Shrine was originally home to the local guardian deity. It is also equipped with a large power generator and other facilities in the event that it needs to be used as an evacuation site for the local residents during a disaster.

In Kego Park, you can see many people taking a break from work or shopping. The park used to be overgrown with trees and had many blind spots, which posed a risk to public safety, but it was completely renovated in 2012 to create a better lit and more open space. The park is also home to a Safety Center that community groups can use for their activities. In addition to hosting various events throughout the year, the park is famous for its gorgeous Christmas lights in winter.

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都心のオアシス、警固神社と警固公園

福岡市の中心部・天神地区の憩いのエリアとして親しまれている警固神社と警固公園。西鉄福岡駅に隣接する立地の良さもあり、常に人通りが絶えません。警固神社が現在地に移ってきたのは1608年のこと。福岡藩祖・黒田長政によって社殿が造営され、地域の人々に信仰されてきました。現在も残る鳥居は1639年に二代藩主・黒田忠之が建立したものです。

警固神社の境内はそれほど広くありませんが、樹齢300年余りとされる見事な大楠が茂っています。江戸時代の面影を残す格調高い本殿はもちろん、2〜400年前に奉納された古い灯籠や、全国でもめずらしい笑い顔のおきつね様が社殿前に座る今益稲荷神社など、見どころもいろいろあります。リラックス効果のある足湯まであるので、歩き疲れた足を癒すのにぴったりです。

2022年秋には社務所が9階建のビルに生まれ変わりました。社務所としての機能が充実したのはもちろん、これまで貸し倉庫などで保管してきた神輿や祭神具などの保管スペース、江戸中期以降の奉納絵馬の展示スペースなども設けられています。警固神社はもともと地域の守り神。災害時には地域の人々に避難場所として開放することを想定し、大型発電機などの設備もあります。

警固公園では、仕事や買い物の合間に休憩する人を多く見かけます。以前は樹木が生い茂って死角が多く、安全性の観点から問題がありましたが、2012年に全面改装されて明るく広々とした雰囲気になりました。公園内には地域団体が活動に利用できる安全安心センターがあります。さまざまなイベントが行われるほか、クリスマスシーズンの豪華なイルミネーションでも有名です。