There is a cafeteria located next to the iris pond within the precincts of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. It has a retro feel, typical of a Showa-era tourist spot. However, their simmered champon noodles are delicious, so I always have lunch here when visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Depending on the season, irises and hydrangeas can be beautiful. Since there is no restroom inside the cafeteria, it is recommended to use the nearby public restroom before entering.

Today, I wanted to visit a power spot so I came to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. This place is truly full of blessings and lined with delicious restaurants, making it a power spot within a power spot! I enjoyed shopping, eating delicious food, and relaxing. Since it was a bit hot today, I decided to take it easy. I found a relaxing place called "Uguisu Chaya". There is a pond in front of the store, and the inside is spacious. I wanted to sit in the tatami room because I like the atmosphere of the pond, but since I was alone this time, I was directed to sit outside or at a table. Well, it can't be helped if there is a waste of space if I'm alone when a group of customers arrives, right? Anyway, I ordered the meat udon at a table. It's a very traditional udon, but it tastes extra delicious in a nice atmosphere. I recommend it to those who visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine with two or more people.

Katsudon before work! "Uguisu Chaya" in Dazaifu. It's been a while since I've worked in Dazaifu. Before starting this blog, I used to come here often. I didn't have much time, so I went to "Uguisu Chaya" next to Shinyoji Pond. It's been about 17 years since I last came here. The food menu is a bit pricey, even the cheapest Niku Udon is 1000 yen, but it's a tourist spot, so it's expected. I ordered the Katsudon, which was 1300 yen. You pay at the table before eating, probably because there are a lot of customers coming in and out. The Katsudon was delicious with thick meat and plenty of sauce. They use Yamagata pork. Why Yamagata? I finished my meal in 5 minutes and headed to work. Thank you for the meal! ●Shop Information Uguisu Chaya 092-922-4120 Dazaifu City Saifu 4-7-13

Located by the iris pond within the grounds of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, this tea house offers spacious seating perfect for a relaxing break after visiting the shrine. In addition to set meals and noodles, they also serve plum mochi. During a trip to Fukuoka with my Nondakure friends from Tokyo, we decided to visit Dazaifu and I took the opportunity to guide them to an amusement park. However, the snack shop inside the amusement park was only open on weekends and holidays, so we ended up stopping by this tea house nearby for a casual drink. The seating by the iris pond was on tatami mats with low tables, while the entrance side had many tables. There were also partitions in place for COVID-19 prevention. We started with a toast with beer, priced at 700 yen for a draft beer. Since we weren't in the mood for a full meal, we ordered the seared pork and also added tempura as a single item order. - Seared Pork: 800 yen Thick slices of pork belly were seared to a nice crisp and served with fresh vegetables, resembling a main dish from a set meal. It had a good amount of fat without being too heavy. - Tempura Assortment: 1,500 yen The assortment included shrimp, fish, and various vegetables. The tempura had a nice crispy texture and was well presented. They even had a unique item called "Umeboshi Tempura" which was a sweet and salty pickled plum, adding an interesting twist to the dish. We enjoyed our drinks while watching young people practicing dance by the empty street next to the pond. Overall, it's a nice space for a leisurely time after visiting the shrine.

Today, I had a light meal while overlooking the iris pond. I went to a long-established restaurant called "Uguisu Chaya" along the approach to the main hall of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. I wanted to sit by the window for lunch, but despite it being empty, I was seated at a table near the entrance. When I asked if I could sit by the window, they just said they would seat me here without giving a reason, even though everyone else who came later sat by the window... Anyway, I ordered a beer and some fried chicken (750 yen) while looking at the iris pond from a distance. It seems to be a food ticket system, as I ordered and paid after being seated, then received a food ticket. The fried chicken that came out was actually chicken wings shaped like tulips. This was quite unusual. The skin was crispy and the meat was juicy. It was a substantial dish and went well with the beer. Enjoying a beer while gazing at the beautiful irises is nice. It would have been even better if the service had been a little more attentive. It was a bit disappointing.

I went climbing with a friend and my daughter at Inoyama in Umi-cho, and then headed to Dazaifu by car. It was really crowded! We finally had lunch after a long wait. I was so hungry and just wanted to fill my stomach! We arrived at the restaurant at 14:40. What we ordered: - Me: Boiled Champon (limited quantity) for 1,050 yen. You can change it to Mentaiko Champon for an additional 200 yen, but this time I decided to go with the regular type. The Champon had more ingredients than I expected. It was delicious and satisfying for my hungry stomach. - My friend and daughter: Tempura Soba for 1,400 yen. The tempura batter was crispy and light, and the pickled plum tempura was interesting. It had a soft texture like a heated tomato with a subdued acidity. I didn't have high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. I would like to try their Ume-gaeshi Mochi next time. Thank you for the meal!

Located within an hour's drive from the center of Fukuoka city is Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. One of the famous sweets at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is Ume-ga-eshi Mochi. These rice cakes are mainly sold along the approach to the shrine, with a crispy outer layer and a hot red bean paste filling inside. We enjoyed these sweets at a tea house within the shrine grounds called "Uguisu Chaya," which has been in business for over 50 years. The retro tatami room overlooks the iris pond, and we tried the Ume-ga-eshi Mochi and matcha set for 650 yen. The Ume-ga-eshi Mochi has a "Reiwa" stamp on it, celebrating the new era. The crispy rice cake with a hot red bean paste filling was delicious. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is currently busy with school trips and Asian tourists, and the general dining menu includes local specialties like mentaiko champon. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience at Uguisu Chaya.

After being shown to a seat, you have to go to the ticket counter to place your order. I wonder why the system is set up this way. The Umeboshi mochi varies depending on the shop. It was not the moist type commonly sold along the approach, but rather a crispy type with a feather attached. The matcha was delicious with a light flavor. Although this was also tasty, on the way back I found myself wanting to eat the moist type, so I ended up buying it as a souvenir from a different shop.

When you come to Uguisu Teahouse in Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, this is the place to be! Actually, I graduated from Tenmangu Kindergarten. The Uguisu Teahouse faction enjoys beer while gazing at the iris pond. The breeze is lovely. Ah, such luxury. When you visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, be sure to stop by!

Whenever I go to Dazaifu, I always buy the famous Ume-gaeshi mochi to take home. But this time, I decided to take a break and eat at the shop. I ordered a set of tea and Ume-gaeshi mochi. The freshly baked mochi had a crispy exterior and tasted even better than usual. It paired perfectly with the tea. The shop is located in front of the Iris Pond, so I recommend visiting during this season to enjoy the view of the irises.

The shop always has the same owner who greets you, it is a relaxed place where you can sit comfortably, and it is welcoming for families with children. They serve plum rice cakes and beer.

It was tastier than I expected. The pork cutlet in the rice bowl was thick, and the soba noodles were cooked perfectly.

Umegae mochi ===========

Customer service needs improvement.

Today, I unexpectedly visited Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. For lunch, I was hesitant about the crowded restaurants along the approach to the shrine, but I found several teahouses facing a pond. Among them, Uguisu Teahouse was spacious, and their menu item Yuzu Oroshi Ebi-Ten Soba for 900 yen looked delicious, so I decided to go in. When I was shown to my seat, I was informed that I needed to buy a food ticket at the counter and order by stating my table number. It was mentioned that you should order something for each person in your group. This system is common in tourist areas, and it may be confusing if you're not used to it. However, the brisk explanation by the staff at the counter and the efficient service of the customers were quite pleasant. The Ebi-Ten Soba arrived promptly. It was a cold soba dish with broth poured over it. The yuzu aroma and the spiciness of yuzu pepper were just right, and the soba noodles were smooth and delicious. It may be a bit early in the season, but I would like to relax and enjoy the view by the pond when the plum blossoms bloom.

After visiting the Kyushu National Museum, I often stop by a tea house near the Ayame Pond on the way back. Whenever I come to the tea house, I feel like I've really arrived in Dazaifu. I've been coming here since I was a little kid. When I was a child, it was a tradition to buy "Nikki Water" and then say "it's awful" afterwards (laughs). On this day, I visited the Uguisu Tea House. It's a big shop. I remembered seeing a banner for the "Yuzu Oroshi Noodle Festival" when I visited before and thought, "I should have tried that," when I saw the yellow banner again (laughs). First, we were shown to our seats. Of course, we requested a tatami seat with a view of the Ayame Pond. We remembered our seat number and went to buy food tickets, as per the unique system. We tried two items from the "Yuzu Oroshi Noodle Festival." First, the "Yakisoba Udon" (900 yen). It was described as a B-grade gourmet classic, but it was like yakisoba in udon form. It came with plenty of vegetables and yuzu oroshi on top. Following the recommended way of eating written on the menu, we first tried it as it was served. Oh, it's actually delicious! Despite being labeled as B-grade, it costs 900 yen. The ingredients are luxurious. Next, we mixed in the yuzu oroshi as suggested on the menu. Oh, this is also tasty! The elegant spiciness adds a nice touch. Lastly, we dissolved the remaining yuzu oroshi in ponzu sauce and added it. Oh, the flavor completely changes and it's delicious! Next, we tried the "Yuzu Oroshi Ebi-Ten Soba" (900 yen). Cold soba with yuzu oroshi, green onions, nori, and two shrimp tempura. A refined dish. We first poured the dipping sauce over the soba and tried it. Oh, this is also delicious! Very refined soba. The spiciness of the yuzu oroshi is more direct in this dish. The shrimp tempura is also tastier than expected. This shop in Dazaifu is a tourist spot with relatively high prices on the menu. Nevertheless, I always end up pleasantly surprised by the taste when I enter without expecting much. That's how it was this time too. The Ayame Pond offers a soothing view even without flowers. We had a relaxing time. I noticed many staff members running around the spacious shop, providing excellent service. Yeah, it's good. The atmosphere of this tea house. It really captures the essence of Dazaifu. Coming here without expectations always leads to satisfaction. Tea houses are places to relax.

After visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, I felt a little hungry so I decided to grab a bite to eat. I ended up choosing soba noodles and the place was quite crowded, probably because it was the season. Luckily, I managed to secure a seat without having to wait. The ordering system here is a bit old-fashioned, where you buy a food ticket at a separate counter (not a vending machine). The zaru soba I ordered had a slightly sweet broth, which I'm not sure if it's a Kyushu thing, but it tasted good nonetheless. It had the typical taste of tourist area soba noodles. The turnover was fast, despite the large number of people. I recommend sitting by the window with a view of the lake.