Geographic features

Dazaifu City is located in the area called Chikushi, in the central-western part of Fukuoka Prefecture.

To the north is Mt. Shiohji and to the east is Mt. Homan. The Mikasa River, which originates from Mt. Homan, runs through the city, passes through its residential area, joins with the Sagita and Osano Rivers, and flows into the Hakata Bay.
In the ancient times, the area of present-day Dazaifu City developed as a strategic point of politics, administration, diplomatic activities, defense, culture and trade. In recent years, with visitors more than 100 times the city’s population, it has prospered as a city of international tourism. Additionally, in 2019, following the abdication of the Emperor Akihito, the new era name Reiwa was designated for the new Emperor Naruhito, the son of the previous emperor, in accordance with Japanese tradition. The Reiwa is taken from a poem in Japan’s earliest poetic anthology “Man-yo shu”. The poem was written by a poet who stayed in Dazaifu as a government official more than 1000 years ago. Since then, Dazaifu, as the birth place of the new era name, has attracted new attention from people nationwide.

Dazaifu has been popularly known as the place for ume, Japanese apricot, from the old days. In 2022, the city started the Dazaifu “Ume” Project after the name of new era, Reiwa, was determined. The name Reiwa was mentioned in a poem written by Ohtomo-no Tabito, a government official stationed in Dazaifu. He would have enjoyed having ume blossom viewing parties about 1300 years ago. Using the ume, the city has promoted the development of local souvenir industries, such as sweets and local special products, with the aim of boosting the city’s economic growth. In addition, such products are used as return gifts for those who live outside the city but pay a portion of their taxes to the city to promote its development. This tax program is called Furusato Nohzei, the local tax contribution. Under this system, the total amount of local tax contribution to Dazaifu City has increased from 40 million yen to 1.8 billion yen, which is 45 times the amount from six years ago.

 

Main industries

Wholesale/retail sales

Symbols

City Tree : Camphor tree
City flower: Plum blossom

Number of tourists

8,810,000 (FY2023)※10,930,000 (FY2017　before COVID-19 crisis)

Official website

http://www.city.dazaifu.lg.jp/