Kyushu National Museum 九州国立博物館

Set on the hill above Dazaifu, the Kyushu National Museum hosts a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of cultural exchange between Asia and Japan, with thousands of historical artifacts and National Treasures dating back millennia.

You can reach the museum by train and then a short walk, by bus and then a short walk, or by car.

The museum is a ten-minute walk from Dazaifu Station, and a specially built access tunnel links the museum to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine .

The museum was opened in 2005, becoming Japan's fourth national museum. The others, located in Tokyo , Kyoto and Nara , were all built in the late 19th century, and the Kyushu museum is by far the most architecturally adventurous. Its glass walls reflect the sky and mountains behind and help the entire building blend into the surrounding scenery.

Dazaifu was chosen as the location for the museum because, since ancient times, it was the site of the Dazaifu government. Dazaifu , Fukuoka , and Kyushu as a whole played an important in exchange between Japan and other Asian countries. As such, the museum arranges its exhibitions based on the theme of understanding how Japanese culture was formed from Asian historical perspectives.

The museum's entrance hall is incredibly spacious. A long escalator takes you up through the multi-leveled interior to a space housing the permanent exhibition and a revolving series of special exhibitions that typically explore Japan and Europe's links with greater Asia. The entrance hall is frequently used for events and concerts.

On the first floor is a gift shop and a room with hands-on exhibits from various Asian cultures. Admission is free, and all it's fun area that all ages can enjoy.