I was amazed, as I read, how many things have their origin in Hakata. The soda and udon noodles and the manju cakes, for example, which we ate at the Oogususama Sentoumyou, were made in the Jotenji temple for the first time by monk Shoichikokushi. In the temple, in which the Gion Yamakasa Festival was born as well. Both of them, the origin of the noodles as well as the Yamakasas, is read there on a stone memorial.

As I did some research, I was also founding out, that one of the origin of the green tea in Japan was also in Hakata. It is said, Yousai, the founder of Shofukuji temple brought it to Japan and planted the seeds in the temple as well as in the Sefuri mountain, which is located on the border of Fukuoka.

Moreover, the Shofukuji temple with its approximately 800 years, is the first zen temple in all Japan. It was founded in 1195 by priest Eisai, who introduced the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism from China to Japan. If you want to visit this temple, you can do this at any time, it is always open and free of charge.

Also the Sumiyoshi Shrine, which is located near Hakata station. It is believed to be the first of the about 2000 Sumiyoshi Shrines in Japan. It was one of the highest ranked Shrines as well as the greatest of the northern part of the Fukuoka prefecture.

This information I've found at www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp, www.fukuoka-now.com and http://www.gojapango.com.