There are many major Tenman-gu Shrines on the path Michizane took to his place of exile in Dazaifu, and three Tenman-gu Shrines such Kitano-tenmangu Shrine, Dazaifu-tenmangu Shrine, and Osaka-tenmangu Shrine (or Hofu-tenmangu Shrine), that are considered to have had the deepest connection with Michizane are referred to as the Three Great Tenjins of Japan.
道真が大宰府に流されていった道筋に主要な天満宮の多くはあり、その内特に道真と関係が深いという北野天満宮・太宰府天満宮の二つに大阪天満宮・防府天満宮のいずれかを入れた三つの天満宮については、日本三天神と呼ばれる。