Stunning 4K videos of Dazaifu shrine will make you want a ticket to Fukuoka

Dazaifu Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine on the outskirts of Fukuoka City in southern Japan. It was founded in 905 after the death of Sugawara no Michizane. According to legend, during his funeral procession, the ox pulling his body suddenly stopped and refused to move, so the revered scholar was buried at that spot and the shrine built to mark it. The grounds are covered with thousands of plum trees, including a massive specimen called the "tobiume," or flying plum. It is said to have flown from Kyoto to Dazaifu to be reunited with Michizane after he was exiled there.

With its long, charming history and beautiful grounds, Dazaifu Tenmangu attracts more than seven million people each year. And now you can visit virtually, too, as Dazaifu City is releasing a series of videos introducing the area’s seasonal charms.

The videos were filmed using a state-of-the-art 4K camera. In addition to shots of the shrine’s grounds, ceremonies, and annual events, the two-and-a-half minute videos include everyday vignettes and images of the surrounding natural environment as it changes through the seasons. So far, the city has released three videos: Summer, Autumn and Winter, and Highlights of the Year (below).

These might sound like any other promotional videos, but they have a unique flavor that can’t be chalked up to just the crystal-clear resolution. For one thing, there is no narration or text, making the images accessible to Japanese and non-Japanese alike. The videos attempt to seduce the viewer simply with the beauty of the scenes and subtle music.

The approach seems to be working. Since the videos began to be released a few months ago, they have collectively racked up more than a million views.

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