Hakata Bay

It faces the Tsushima Strait, and features beaches and a port, though parts of the bay have been reclaimed in the expansion of the city of Fukuoka.

The bay is only 10 metres deep on average, 23 m at its deepest point, though the tides bring a two-metre change in the water level.

Since 1945, 1167 square kilometres of land have been reclaimed from the bay, primarily to improve or reinforce the effective functioning of the port.

Much of the area is included in the Genkai National Park, and efforts are made to maintain and preserve the natural features and environment both in the bay and on its islands.

Emissaries from the Chinese kingdom of Cao Wei arrived in the 3rd century, and Empress Jingū is said to have launched her invasion of Korea from this port.

Following the defeat of Yamato (Japan) and Baekche in the battle of Hakusukinoe in 663, fears arose of invasions from Silla and China, and areas around the bay were fortified.

Fujiwara no Sumitomo, having opposed Taira no Masakado's rebellion in 939, fled to Hakata two years later, where he was captured and killed.

Kublai Khan's forces seized Tsushima and Iki Island before landing on the shores of Hakata Bay on November 19.

Following the end of World War II, this was one of the primary ports through which Japanese soldiers and civilian residents of the colonies were repatriated.