Fukuoka City in Fukuoka Prefecture is the largest city in the western region of Kyushu, and is often referred to as the gateway to Kyushu. Fukuoka has a long history, and even today, relics and artifacts from previous areas are excavated in the city. The city was originally a base for contact with foreign nations in the seventh century; around the turn of the 11th century, the Daitogai district was built for Chinese and Korean traders. Rows of internationally styled buildings were erected, and the growing metropolis became a haven for foreign merchants to come and go, taking on the name “Hakata City”.