Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Tofuro - Dazaifu Government Center (Nara & Heian Periods)

The site of the Dazaifu government office is known as “Tofuro.” During the Nara and Heian periods, the Dazaifu was responsible for supervising Japan’s maritime frontier, as well as administering the nine provinces and two island of the Saikaido (modern Kyushu).

In those days, a great edifice with vermilion (lacquered) columns and a tiled roof stood at the foot of Mount Ono. Today all the remains is a park with the huge foundation stones of the original structures.