Kushida Shrine, Hakata 櫛田神社 is the most important shrine in the area. It was founded in 757 when Hakata was the point of arrival and departure for trade and diplomatic missions between Japan, China and Korea.

The main deity enshrined here is Ohata Nushina no mikoto, an obscure kami who is claimed to be the ancestor of the Watarai lineage of priests from the Outer Shrine of Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture. From early to mid July the shrine hosts the Yamakasa Gion Matsuri, the biggest festival in Fukuoka. On the last day of the matsuri seven teams from the seven neighborhoods of Hakata race carrying giant floats called kazariyama. Each float is decorated with traditional figures and scenes, is up to 10 meters tall and weighs one ton. One of the huge floats is on permanent display in the shrine grounds. (first image)