Hakata-ku, Fukuoka

Hakata-ku (博多区) is a Japanese ward of the city of Fukuoka in Fukuoka Prefecture. It is best known as the location of Fukuoka's main train station, Hakata Station.

Geography

Hakata-ku is a ward of Fukuoka City located on its eastern edge. It is 31.47 km² with a population of 206,629 (current January 1, 2009). Most of the ward is plains where the Mikasa River (御笠川, Mikasagawa) flows. The northwestern end of the ward faces Hakata Bay, which includes the ferry terminal Hakata Harbor (博多港, Hakata kō). The northeast end of the ward is slightly elevated, and is named Higashihirao (東平尾), with nearby Fukuoka Airport. Around Hakata Station is downtown; Nakasu (中洲) is the red-light district in the ward along the Naka River (那珂川, Nakagawa). Hakata-ku also houses the Fukuoka Prefectural office.

Economy

Many Japanese companies have established branch offices in Fukuoka City, particularly in Hakata-ku cause of its easy access to Hakata Station and Fukuoka Airport. Therefore, people on business trips often visit and stay in Hakata-ku. The headquarters of JR Kyūshū,Best Denki, and many other companies are in the ward.

Fukuoka

Fukuoka (福岡市, Fukuoka-shi) is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan. It is the most populous city on the island, followed by Kitakyushu. It is the largest city and metropolitan area west of Keihanshin. The city was designated on April 1, 1972, by government ordinance. Greater Fukuoka (福岡都市圏), with 2.5 million people (2005 census), is part of the heavily industrialized Fukuoka–Kitakyushu zone as well as Northern Kyushu.

As of July 2011, Fukuoka is Japan's sixth largest city, having passed the population of Kyoto. Since the founding of Kyoto in 794, this marks the first time that a city west of the Kinki region has a larger population than Kyoto. In ancient times, however, the area near Fukuoka, the Chikushi region, was thought by some historians to have possibly been even more influential than the Yamato region.

Pre-history

Exchanges from the continent and the Northern Kyushu area date as far back as Old Stone Age. It has been thought that waves of immigrants arrived in Northern Kyushu from mainland Asia. Several Kofun exist.

Fukuoka (disambiguation)

Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.

It can also refer to:

Locations

Buildings and attractions

Fukuoka (surname)

Fukuoka is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: