As described below, Dazai-fu is the oldest full-scale city older than Fujiwara-kyo (the Imperial capital of Japan) (in 694), which is the oldest jobosei (a series of avenues running at right angles to each other marked out the system) Miyakonojo of the Yamato kingship.
下記のことから大宰府は、ヤマト王権最古の条坊制都城である藤原京（694年）より古い、日本最古の本格的な都市である。