Hakata

While once just a prominent merchant town, Hakata is known today as Fukuoka's business hub. It offers a wealth of culture sites such as Kushida Shrine, the city's main shrine founded in 757AD . Five minutes from Gion subway station and within walking distance of Hakata Station, is Japan's oldest Zen temple, Shofukuji Temple was founded in 1195 by the monk Eisai on his return from China. Shofukuji Temple contains the graves of many of Fukuoka's feudal lords and the former main gate of Fukuoka Castle.