Jofuku Herbal Center

Xu Fu Chojukan (徐福長寿館, Jofuku Chōjukan) is a museum located in Saga city and presents the life of Xu Fu, who came to Saga in search of herbs that grant immortality.

It is adjoining a herb garden planted with 500 kinds of herbs.

Real Life
2,200 years ago, Xu Fu traveled to Japan in search of the elixir of immortality for Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, and there are many legends that emerged from his journey. The setting for many of these legends is the city of Saga.

When Xu Fu's group reached the Ariake Sea, he decided to float a cup (Bu) on the water and go ashore where he made landfall. As such, the place where the cup landed is known as “Bubai”, which literally means “floating cup”.

He reached the ground by pushing through the reeds and only pushed one side of the reeds. To use water, Xu Fu's companions dug a well and washed their hands. This is known as the “well for washing hands” and is still highly revered today. The place called “Tearai” (literally, “handwashing”) located in the Terai village of Morodomi, Saga city, is believed to get its name from this well.

Xu Fu planted a juniper as evidence that he had landed in Japan. It is said that this juniper grew strong and large, straight into the sky. Junipers normally grow in hot climates, and there are practically no other cases of these trees in Japan. Not to mention, trees estimated to be around 2,200 years old like this one are even rarer, making this tree mysteriously fall into the legend of Xu Fu. This juniper still stands today as the sacred tree of the Nikita Shrine.

Xu Fu started a journey to Mount Kinryu, which resembled Mount Penglai. However, the road was bumpy, and he had difficulty walking. As a solution, he left clothes to make it easier to walk. When he came to Chifu city from Kinryu, in Saga city, he had worn exactly 1000 clothes and this is how the place got its name from Chifu, or literally, “The thousand clothes”.

Xu Fu fell in love with the woman who was serving as his guide, a daughter of Genzo named Otatsu. But Xu Fu's message of “I'll be back in 5 years” when he left Mt. Kinryu, was mistakenly transmitted as “I'll be back in 50 years” and Otatsu is said to have drowned in sadness. The statue of Otatsu Kannon at the Kinryu Shrine is a tribute to this tragic love story.

Xu Fu reached the top of Mt. Kinryu, where he met Anqi sheng and obtained the elixir of immortality. The name of this elixir is Furofuki, and it still grows on Mount Kinryu today. By the way, the name “Furofuki” is said to come from the word “Furofushi” which means “do not grow old, do not die” in Japanese.

In the series
The museum appears as paintings in the background of the New Jofuku Bar. This was a clue to finding out the identity of the bartender later in the second season as Jofuku himself, who hung these paintings in honor of himself.

Trivia

 * There are remains of silk and human bones found in the Yoshinogari ruins that are deeply involved with China. These are also historical materials that link Xu Fu and the Yoshinogari ruins. Perhaps the people who accompanied Xu Fu settled in Yoshinogari and built a great kingdom.
 * He has an animated documentary made in Saga that serves as a guide for the museum.