Kōrokan, Archaeological site in Jōnai, Fukuoka, Japan.
Kōrokan is an archaeological excavation site in Maizuru Castle Park in Fukuoka that displays foundation walls and footprints of an 8th-century guest house complex. The remains visible today lie within an open park area and are marked with signs and ground indicators.
The building arose during the Nara period and served for centuries as official lodging for diplomatic missions from China, Korea and other parts of Asia. The complex lost its function after continental missions declined and was later built over before excavations uncovered the foundation walls again.
The name translates literally to a house for guests from distant lands and refers to diplomatic contact between Japan and the Asian mainland. Visitors now see an open lawn with markers where envoys from China and Korea once lived and held talks during their stays.
The area lies freely accessible within a park and can be visited at any time without admission requirements. Information panels in Japanese explain the layout of the former buildings and their use.
Excavations uncovered roof tiles and ceramics from the Tang Dynasty that point to direct exchange with the Chinese empire. Such finds are rare in Japan outside temples and palaces and show how important the location was for international relations.
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