Seven prefectures in Kyushu: Wind-bell power spots that add cool color to summer A journey of healing tones

Visit the wind-bell spots in 7 prefectures in Kyushu! Recommended & cool trip for summer 2025!

Chirin, chirin.... The cool sound carried by the wind makes me stop suddenly.

Wind chimes, a symbol of summer in Japan, are more than mere decorations. Wind chimes, which are believed to have originated from "fūtaku" (wind bells) imported from China in the Nara period (710-794), have evolved in their own unique way and have become a summer tradition that gives us a sense of "coolness" in the modern age.

The sound of wind chimes will make you feel calm even in the humid Kyushu summer.
This article introduces wind-bell festivals and wind-bell spots throughout Kyushu where you can enjoy the spectacular "kaleidoscope of sound" created by colorful wind-bells.

Make memories of summer, of course, but also make a wish to the sound of wind chimes.... It is also recommended to recharge your batteries at a power spot.
Please enjoy the healing summer with wind chimes.

Mitsui Temple: Fukuoka

The "Tunnel of Wind Chimes" decorated with 10,000 wind chimes is a sight to behold! The collaboration with soap bubbles is also fantastic!

The "Wind Bell Festival" at Mitsui Temple is held with the hope that "wonderful relationships will spread" like the sound of wind bells.

The 50-meter-long "Wind Bell Tunnel," decorated with more than 10,000 wind bells, emits a cool sound when the wind blows, as if you are being showered with sound. Visitors can also purchase wind chimes and write their wishes on strips of paper and hang them from the wind chimes.

Also on display during the period are approximately 300 miniature umbrellas (umbrella) with the wish that they will not blur even if they are troubled by thoughts. Unique Jizo statues such as Guts Pose Jizo and Choriss Jizo, as well as handwritten red seals with a warm atmosphere, will also soothe your heart.

■Road Stations around
Roadside Station Oto Cherry Blossom Road Maple Leaf Pavilion
Roadside Station Itoda

Date & Time: August 31 (Sun.)
*Lighting will be on August 23 (Sat.) and 24 (Sun.)

Mitarai Shrine: Oita

Colorful glass wind chimes swaying in the wind. Hand-painted red seals for a limited time are also popular.

For the past six years, Mitarai Shrine, which many people visit for "bringing good luck," has held the "Wind Bell Festival" to bring coolness to worshippers.

About 500 glass wind chimes of various colors, including red, blue, purple, and light blue, are hung on the stone steps leading to the temple grounds, creating a clear and beautiful tone.
Red seals with seasonal designs are also popular, and during the period, a limited number of red seals with wind chimes are available. The mysterious atmosphere of the temple is also attractive, as there is a Ryuketsu (dragon hole) where the dragon god has been worshipped since ancient times. Visitors can also enjoy the summer-only "mizuyu-mikuji," a fortune that appears when dipped in water, and a large ema (votive tablet) created in collaboration with Naoto Kitamura, a painter living in Oita.

■Road Stations around
Roadside Station Tanoura

Date/Time: Mid-July to late August
*Subject to change due to weather and other factors.

Yutoku Inari Shrine: Saga

Like a different world! Sigh-inducing beauty: 3,000 "Happiness Wind Chimes" with wishes

One of the "Three Great Inari Shrines of Japan," Yutoku Inari Shrine attracts about 3 million visitors a year.

The lacquered and extremely colorful shrine pavilions, which stand as if protected by a forest, are so beautiful that they are called "the Nikko of Chinsei". The "Fu-ring Festival" held every year from June is a grand event in which approximately 3,000 "Shiawase Fu-ring" are displayed along the approach to the shrine and on the shrine grounds.
The wind chimes, designed by shrine maidens, come in six types, including a white fox, which is typical of Inari Shrine, a goldfish, and a torii gate. Visitors can enjoy the contrast between the vivid green of the deep green, the beautiful vermilion of the shrine pavilions, and the colorful strips of paper swaying in the wind, while being enveloped by the soothing sound of the wind chimes. Visitors can also write their wishes on the strips of paper and dedicate them to the shrine.

■Road Stations around
Roadside Station Kashima

Date/Time: Early June - Late October

Sekisuiji Temple: Kumamoto, Japan

A time to soak in the atmosphere at an old temple in the mountains, where the sound of "Negai no Fu-ring" (wind chimes for prayers) resonates solemnly

Seoksuji Temple, tucked away in the lush green mountains, is a historic temple founded in the Heian period (794-1192).

The "Negai no Fu-ring" festival, where seasonal wind chimes are displayed throughout the year, started two years ago in hopes of recovery from the torrential rain disaster. The sight of approximately 1,500 colorful wind chimes swaying in the solemn atmosphere with a sense of history is very fantastic.
There is also a "Nadebotsuke," which is said to heal when stroked, as well as a wide variety of red seals, such as paper cutouts and seasonal designs. The temple grounds are also home to the oldest bridge in the Kuma region, the "Megane-bashi" (glasses bridge), and the Ishimon (stone gate), which is carved out of a huge stone. Listen carefully to the sound of wind chimes and immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of this old temple.

■Road Stations around
Roadside Station Hitoyoshi

Dates: Held throughout the year
*Subject to change due to weather and other factors.

Jufukuji Temple: Nagasaki

Dusty with cute wishes swaying in the wind. The elegant garden is also an attraction.

At Jufukuji Temple, known for its "upside-down fresh greenery" and "upside-down autumn leaves," approximately 170 wind chimes are displayed on the temple grounds from August to early October.

It was first decorated five years ago to "please the children" in place of a festival that was cancelled due to the Corona Vortex.
The wind chimes come in two types: one made of red-and-white Aritayaki porcelain, which resembles a chochin, and the other made of traditional copper.
Local children's wishes are written on strips of paper, giving a heartwarming feeling. Also, from this year, sun catchers that collect sunlight and shine are displayed. The interplay of cute wishes, gentle tones, and sparkling reflected light is sure to soothe the soul. The beautifully landscaped garden is another attraction. Please enjoy strolling through the garden while feeling the hospitality.

Photo courtesy of Nagasaki Prefectural Tourism Federation

■Road Stations around
Roadside Station Sasebokusu 99

Date/Time: Early August - Early October

Tamoto Shrine: Miyazaki

Healing time at the "Wind Bell Corridor" surrounded by the clear sound of wind bells

Tamoto Shrine is dedicated to Konohana-no-Sakuyahime-no-mikoto, the most beautiful goddess in Japanese mythology, and is believed to be a guardian deity of women, providing safe childbirth and fertility.

The "Wind Bell Corridor," held annually from late April to the end of September, attracts many people from within and outside of the prefecture. The event was started by the Hongo Sankakai, a group of local residents, and is now in its seventh year.
Walking along the corridor where about 400 glass wind chimes are hung, you will be surrounded by the gentle and cool sound of the wind chimes, and your heart will be refreshed. Visitors can purchase a 500-yen wooden tag to write their wishes on and attach them to the wind chimes.

■Road Stations around
Roadside Station Phoenix

Date/Time: Late April through September 30

Come to Minami-Kyushu City! Minami-Kyushu City Furyu no Koji: Kagoshima

Enjoy the unique scenery of Minami-Kyushu City! Wind-bell Tour" around the city in search of coolness

From July 5, "Come to Minami-Kyushu City" will be held in Minami-Kyushu City, located in the southern part of Satsuma Peninsula, where about 600 wind chimes will be displayed in various places in the city! The "Minami-Kyushu Wind Chime Festival" will be held in Minami-Kyushu City from July 5.

The wind chimes are made of various materials, including glass, ceramics, metal, and carved metal, and each produces its own atmospheric sound when shaken by the wind. The wind chimes that make use of traditional craft techniques of Minami-Kyushu City are a particular must-see, and include a wind bell with the city's mascot character "Ochamurai," and "Kawabe-yaki Wind Chimes" that give off the warmth of clay, as well as a variety of other unique wind chimes.
Wind chimes are also sold at the Chiran Cultural Hall. Enjoy the unique scenery of Minami-Kyushu, such as Mt. Kaimon and dark-green tea plantations, as you enjoy the "wind chime tour. For information on the location of wind chimes and related events, please visit the official website.

Hours: Varies depending on the installation location
Official website: https://minamikyushu-kankounavi.com/index.php
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minamikyushu_kankou/

■Road Stations around
Roadside Station Kawabe Yasuragi-no-Sato

Date & Time: July 5 (Sat) - August 31 (Sun)

The coolness felt by the five senses from the "wind chimes," a summer tradition, is a uniquely Japanese culture. Every year, the heat is so intense that it becomes tiresome, but this kind of cool scenery brings a sense of relief.
After visiting wind chime spots, you can enjoy looking for local delicacies and souvenirs. Please stop by a roadside station and enjoy the encounter with local specialties unique to Kyushu. Everyone, please be prepared for the heat.