Later, as the rest of Japan came under central control in the Nara and Heian eras, Fukuoka remained an important focus for trade and travel. The Kokoran diplomatic mission--the remains of which were discovered under an old baseball stadium--was a staging post for emissaries to China and Korea. From the seventh century until the collapse of the Tang Dynasty in the ninth century, Japanese diplomats, scholars and priests set off for China from here. On their return, they brought Buddhism, Confucianism, knowledge of the Chinese legal system, and Chinese science and medicine to Japan. It is no coincidence that Japan's first Zen Monastery was established in Fukuoka; and it is worth bearing in mind how important these links must have been with what, at the time, was one of the most advanced civilizations in the world. International exchange, however, did not stop at highbrow culture: proud Fukuokans fiercely maintain that Japan's first gyouza and ramen shops were also established in their city.

Today, Fukuoka is just the right size. It is big enough to offer everything that most people need--from abundant shopping, restaurants, businesses, transportation and accommodation to an exciting array of entertainment activities--but small enough to be manageable. This manageable size provides for easy navigation and easy explanation of the city's layout.

Map to Fukuoka