Friendship city since June 27, 2002
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■Location 16km southeast of Fukuoka city
■Average temperature 19.0℃(2001)
■Average yearly rainfall 2,193mm(2001)
■Population 65,129 (As of March 31 2002)
■Area 29.61km2
■City flower Japanese apricot
■City tree Camphor tree
| Japanese apricot | Camphor tree |
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| Dazaifutenmangu | Kaidanin Temple | Ruins of Dazaifu State Office |
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【Location & Temperature】
The Dazaifu city hall is located at 130°31′E longitude, 33°30′N latitude, 37.76m above sea level.
The Shitennoji Mountain is on the north, and the Homanzan Mountain is on the east. The Mikasagawa river, which originates form the Homanzan Mountain and joins the Sagida Mountain and Oosano rivers on the way to Hakata bay, runs through the city.
The city area is 10.9km (north - south), 6.4km (east - west), and the total area is 29.61km2.
The average temperature is, comparatively warm, 19.0℃. The average humidity is 74.6%. The average rainfall is 2,193㎜. In 2001, there were 191 fine days, 101 cloudy days, 69 rainy days, and 4 snowy days.
【History】
Approximately 1300 years ago, the public office, which was called the Ooimikotomochinotsukasa, administered the affairs of region, the economy, and diplomacy of Kyushu District untill the Kamakura period.
There are many historic sites and important cultural assets in the city, such as Ruins of Dazaifu State Office, ruins of Suijyo castle, Kanzeon-ji Temple, Dazaifutenmangu Shrine, etc., and approximately 6,100,000 people visit every year.
【Transportation】To Dazaifu City hall
Nara→Kyoto→（San'yo Shinkansen）→Hakata→（JR Kagoshima Honsen Line）→Futsukaichi→（on foot）→Nishitetsu Dazaifu Line：Futsukaichi→Gojyo
［Approximately 5 hours］
【History of development, Industry and Culture】
It became the Dazaifu-cho, which consolidated the old Dazaifu-cho and the Mizuki village, in 1955.
In those days, the population was 13,264, but later increased due to the enlargement of the Fukuoka Urban Area such as, residencial development on a large scale, university construction, and building of the infrastructure improving transportation facilities. The Dazaifu-cho became the 651st municipality in Japan (the 21st in the prefecture), and is developing as "a residential city with many trees and historic sites in the Fukuoka Urban Area".
Because of the inflow of population from the other cities to Dazaifu as a dormitory suburb to Fukuoka city, the agriculture and forestry have declined.
Besides it is not adequate for the construction of industrial zone, because nearly 15%(446ha) of the city is appointed special historical site.
Therefore the commerce concerning the 6,100,000 visitors who visit every year a lot of cultural assets and historical sites, like Dazaifutenmangu Shrine, is prospering.
On the cultural side, the establishment of the fourth national museum in Dazaifu, following Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara was appointed in 1996. And the museum aims to be the national museum for Kyushu and Asia, and has been striving to be the center of culture and research in Kyushu.
【Partnership Progress】
The Dazaifu was established as the main government office in Kyushu for the rule and diplomacy of the Heijokyo during the Nara period, and was called the Toono-mikado(The faraway Court). It prospered as the center of politics, economics, and culture in Kyushu, and much of the continental culture was introduced into the Heijyokyo through Dazaifu.
Onono Oyu, a national civil servant, was transfered to Dazaifu in 729, and he wrote a famous poem in memory of the Capital of Nara (in Manyoshu 3-328).
One of the three biggest Kaidan-in in Japan is the Kaidan-in of the Todai-ji Temple in Nara, and another is that of Kanzeon-ji Temple in Dazaifu, built in 761. When the Todai-ji Temple was built as a national principal temple in Nara, the Chikuzen Kokubunji(a national temple) was built in Dazaifu.
Thus, both cities established a Friendship City relationship on June 27, 2002. The signing ceremony was held on the 20th anniversary of Dazaifu of having been recognized as a city.
