Kushida Shrine turned out to be quite the find in Fukuoka - honestly, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better shrine in the city. Our timing was perfect too, with all these candles lighting up the grounds, creating this magical atmosphere you can't really capture in photos.

The shrine's got some fun quirks, like this massive otafuku mask (basically the biggest happy lady face you'll ever see in Japan) and this fountain where people make wishes for staying young forever (hey, worth a try, right?). But what really makes it special is that it's not just some tourist spot - it's still very much the heart of local culture, especially during their famous Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival.

Being there with all the candles lit up really showed the shrine at its best. Sometimes you just luck into perfect timing while traveling, and this was definitely one of those moments.