Hakata

From Wacklepedia - The Free Encyclopedia

Hakata (博多区, pop. 176,585) is a ward in Fukuoka, Japan. It is best known as the location of Fukuoka's main train station, Hakata Station. Hakata also houses the Fukuoka prefecture offices, Fukuoka Airport, and the city's ferry terminal.

Before 1889, Hakata was an independent town to the northeast of Fukuoka. Hakata, which was closer to the sea, housed the city's merchants, while Fukuoka housed the samurai. When the two cities merged, the samurai coerced the merchants into naming the combined city "Fukuoka."