Shimonoseki

Shimonoseki 下関
—  Core city  —
下関市 · Shimonoseki
Downtown Shimonoseki
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Location of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi
Shimonoseki
Coordinates: 33°57′N 130°56′E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku
Prefecture	Yamaguchi
Government
• Mayor	Tomoaki Nakao (since 2009)
Area
• Total	716.14 km2 (276.50 sq mi)
Population (October 1, 2010)
• Total	280,386
• Density	391.52/km2 (1,014.0/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Camphor Laurel
- Flower	Crinum asiaticum
Phone number	81-(0)83-231-1111
Address	Nanbu 1-1, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県下関市南部町１の１) 750-8521
Website	City of Shimonoseki

Shimonoseki (下関市, Shimonoseki-shi) is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It is at the southwestern tip of Honshū, facing the Tsushima Strait and also Kitakyushu across the Kanmon Straits.

Nicknamed the "Fugu Capital," it known for the locally caught pufferfish and is the largest harvester of the pufferfish in Japan.

History

Literally 'lower port' (shimo-no-seki), the city prior to 1902 was commonly known as Bakan (馬関) and formally Akamagaseki).

On February 13, 2005, the city of Shimonoseki merged with the towns of Hōhoku, Kikugawa, Toyota, and Toyoura from Toyoura District to form the new city of Shimonseki. Since October 1, 2005, the city has been designated as a Core city by the Japanese Government.

Captured battery at Shimonoseki, 1864.

The geographical position of Shimonoseki has given it historical importance, especially with the Bombardment of Shimonoseki in 1864 and the Treaty of Shimonoseki, where a defeated China handed over Taiwan, Penghu, and Port Arthur to the victorious Japanese in 1895. The Heike and Genji fought at Dan-no-ura near the present Kanmonkyo Bridge.

Kozanji Temple

On January 7, 2006, the wooden station building at Shimonoseki station, which had dated back to 1942, was destroyed in a fire, the cause of which is suspected to be arson.

Economy

Major companies and institutes

Port of Shimonoseki (Hanano-cho Port Area)

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Shimonoseki Shipyard and Machinery Works
• Yamaguchi Financial Group, Inc.
  • The Yamaguchi Bank, Ltd.
  • Momiji Bank,Ltd.
  • YM Securities Co.,Ltd.
• Hayashikane Sangyo Co., Ltd.
• Chofu Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
• Harakosan Co., Ltd.
• Minato-Yamaguchi Co., Ltd.
  • Yamaguchi Shimbun
  • Minato Shimbun

Main sightseeing spots and institutions

Shimonoseki Station

Kanmon Straits seen from space, Shimonoseki on the right, Kitakyushu on the left

Shimonoseki Port

The Shimonoseki aquarium (Kaikyokan) with the Kanmon Straits and Moji-ku, Kitakyushu in the background.

Kaikyo Yume Tower (153m)

Former British Consulate

The last of Richard Henry Brunton's 26 lighthouses at Tsunoshima island, Hohoku, Shimonoseki

The main commercial district is Buzenda and the surroundings of the JR West Shimonoseki Station. Buzenda is near Karato and Shimonoseki Port International Terminal.

JR Shimonoseki Station and Buzenda

Shops

• Sea Mall Shimonoseki (largest shopping center in West Japan when it was built)
  • Shimonoseki Daimaru (department store)
  • Daiei
  • Wedding Hall
• Buzenda Shopping Street (the most famous downtown in Yamaguchi Prefecture)
• Green Mall shopping street (Korean Town [1])
• The Nagato Market, a local farmers' market which sells a fresh fish, fresh vegetables, etc.
• Daiso (100-yen shop, Over 2,350m²)
• Deodeo (electronics store)

Sightseeing

• Kaikyō Yume Tower (Kaikyo Messe Shimonoseki)
• Hiyoriyama Park (The Hiyoriyama Park is famous for enjoying Hanami.)
• Ganryūjima (It is famous for the duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojirō.)

Amusement

• Shimonoseki Royal Bowl (bowling alley)
• ROUND ONE Shimonoseki (Karaoke, Bowling alley, and video arcade)
• Simonoseki Citizen hall
• Hikottoland Marine beach (Hikoshima island)

Others

• Shimonoseki Port (Foreign Access Zone)
• Shimonoseki Port International Terminal
• Shimonoseki Fishing Port
• Yamaguchi Bank Co., Ltd. (head office)
• Hayashikane Sangyo Co., Ltd. (main office)
• Honorary Consulate-General of South Korea, which is geographically very close to the city.

Karato

Shops

• SunLive Karato Shopping Center
• Karato shopping street
• Kanmon Wharf (fresh fish shop and restaurant, etc.)

Sightseeing

• Kaikyokan (Aquarium)
• Mt. Hinoyama (268.2m)
• Karato Market (Fresh fish shop etc.)
• The Karato Retro District
  • Former British Consulate (built in 1906)
  • Former Akita Company Building (built in 1915) : Shimonoseki Tour Information Center
  • Nabe-cho Post Office (built in 1900)
  • Fujiwara Yoshie Memorial Museum
• Akama Shrine (built in 1191) of the child-emperor Antoku
• Kameyama Hachimangu Shrine (built in 859)
• Kanmon Straits (Kanmonkyo Bridge)
• Dan-no-ura (Battle of Dan-no-ura)

Others

• Shimonoseki City Hall
• Arcaport development area

Castle town Chōfu

Shops

• Chofu Tourist Hall
• Chofu Shopping Street
• You me town Chofu (shopping center)

Sightseeing

• Streets with earthen walls
• Kozanji (Temple, National treasure)
• Shimonoseki City Art Museum
• Chofu Garden
• Nogi jinja: shrine dedicated to General Nogi Maresuke
• Shimonoseki Marin Hot Springs

Others

• Chofu Seisakusho.,Ltd. (main office)

Shin-Shimonoseki Station, Ayaragi, Yasuoka, Yoshimi

Shops

• You me town Shin-Shimonoseki (open schedule in 2009)

Sightseeing

• Sumiyoshi shrine (National treasure)
• Shimonoseki Fishing Park
• Shimonoseki Baseball Stadium

Beaches and Camping

• Ayaragi Beach
• Yasuoka Beach
• Yoshimo Beach

Ozuki, Yoshida, Ōki

• Tōgyō-an
• Yutani Onsen (hotspring)

Toyoura

Sightseeing

• Kawatana Onsen (Hot spring)
• Refresh Park Toyoura
• Tongaribousi Toyoura (Roadside Station)
• Okawachi Onsen (hotspring)

Toyota

Sightseeing

• The firefly museum of toyota town
• Mt.Kuruson (554.1M, Kūkai)
• Chugoku Nature Trail
• Roadside Station Hotaru(firefly) Kaidou Nishi no Ichi
• Ichinomata Onsen (hotspring)

Beaches and Camping

• Toyota Kohan Park Campground
• Tokusen no Taki Campground

Kikugawa

Sightseeing

• Kikugawa Onsen (hotspring)
• Roadside Station Kikugawa

Beaches and Camping

• Kikugawa Natural Village Campground

Houhoku

Sightseeing

• Tsunoshima (island)
• Takibe Onsen (hotspring)

Beaches and Camping

• Cobalt Blue Beach
• Doigahama Chuo Beach
• Akada Beach
• Doigahama Campground

Transportation

Ferries from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal

• The Kanpu ferry to Pusan in South Korea regularly.
• The Gwangyang Beech to Gwangyang in South Korea regularly.
• The Orient ferry to Qingdao in China regularly.
• The Orient ferry to Shanghai in China regularly.

Trains

JR network map

• The main Shinkansen station
  • Sanyō Shinkansen
    • Shin-Shimonoseki Station

• The main West Japan Railway Company(JR Nishi Nihon) stations
  • Sanyō Main Line
    • Shimonoseki Station
    • Hatabu Station - Hatabu Station is a railway station on the Sanyō Main Line and the San'in Main Line.
    • Shin-Shimonoseki Station - Shin-Shimonoseki Station is a railway station on the Sanyō Shinkansen Line and the Sanyō Main Line.
    • Chōfu Station
    • Ozuki Station
  • San'in Main Line
    • Hatabu Station
    • Ayaragi Station
    • Kajikuri-Gōdaichi Station
    • Yasuoka Station
    • Fukue Station
    • Yoshimi Station
    • Umegatō Station
    • Kuroimura Station
    • Kawatana-Onsen Station
    • Kogushi Station
    • Yutama Station
    • Ukahongō Station
    • Nagato-Futami Station
    • Takibe Station
    • Kottoi Station
    • Agawa Station
    • Nagato-Awano Station

Buses

Regular bus services are provided by Sanden Kohtsu, as well as by group companies of Sanden Kohtsu.

• Bus companies (A loop-line bus in the city.)
  • Sanden Kohtsu Co.,Ltd.
  • Blue Line Kohtsu Co.,Ltd.

• Intercity bus services (arrival and departure in Shimonoseki city) go to the following destinations: Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Airport, etc.

Roads

Expressway

Chūgoku Expressway

• Shimonoseki interchange
• Ozuki interchange

Bypasses

• Ozuki Bypass
• Shimonoseki-Kita Bypass

National Highways

• Route 2
• Route 9
• Route 191
• Route 435
• Route 491

Airports

Shimonoseki is served by four airports outside the city.

• Nearby airports
  • Kitakyūshū Airport
  • Kokura Airport
  • Yamaguchi Ube Airport (Only for domestic flights)
  • Fukuoka Airport

Education

Universities and colleges

University of East Asia

Institution	Location
National Fisheries University (水産大学校, Suisan daigakkō)	Yoshimi
Shimonoseki City University (下関市立大学, Shimonoseki shiritsu daigaku)	Daigaku-cho
University of East Asia (東亜大学, Tōa daigaku)	Shin-Shimonoseki
Baiko Gakuin University (梅光学院大学, Baikō gakuin daigaku)	Higashieki
Shimonoseki Junior College (下関短期大学, Shimonoseki tanki daigaku)	Sakurayama-cho

Culture

Popular Foods

• Fuguふぐ(blowfish)
• uni うに　Sea urchin
• Whale
• Anko　あんこ　Goosefish
• Kawara Soba
• Ganryu Yaki (Dorayaki)
• Mentaiko　めんたいこ Roe

Specialty Products

• Fuku Chouchin (lantern)
• Akamagaseki Suzuri
• Jourou Ningyo

Festivals

Shimonoseki is home to many festivals that are held throughout the year. Of these, the most famous are Shimonoseki Kaikyo Festival and Shimonoseki Bakan Festival.

• Shimonoseki Fugu (Blowfish) Festival (February) : Haedomari Market
• Kawatana Onsen(hot spring) Festival (April)
• Shimonoseki Kaikyo Festival (May) : Karato, Ganryujima Island
• Suhouteisai Festival (August) : Castle town Chofu
• Kanmon Kaikyo Fireworks Festival (August) : Karato(Aruka Port area)
• Shimonoseki Bakan Festival (August) : Along the street from Karato-cho to Shimonoseki Station
• TOUR de Shimonoseki (October/November)
• Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon (November)
• Shimonoseki Fish Festival (November) : Shimonoseki Fishing Port
• Little Busan Fest (November) : Green Mall

Architecture

• Kōzan-ji - The butsuden completed in 1320 is a National Treasure of Japan.
• Akama Shrine
• Kaikyō Yume Tower

Museums

• Shimonoseki City Art Museum
• Shimonoseki Chofu Museum
• Shimonoseki City Archaeological Museum
• Shimonoseki Marine Science Museum (Shimonoseki City Aquarium) (Kaikyo Kan)
• Doigahama Site Anthropological Museum
• The firefly museum of toyota town
• The Yamagin Archive (やまぎん史料館) of the Yamaguchi Bank

Sports

Professional Teams

• FC Baleine Shimonoseki (Football)

Sporting venues

• Shimonoseki Baseball Stadium
• Shimonoseki Boat Race Stadium (Shimonoseki Kyōtei)
• Shimonoseki City Gymnasium
• Shimonoseki Track and field stadium
• Shimonoseki city swimming pool
• Nogihama General Park (Football stadium)

Crime and safety

The Goda-ikka yakuza syndicate is headquartered in Shimonoseki. A designated yakuza group, the Goda-ikka is the largest yakuza syndicate in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Twin cities

Shimonoseki has one domestic and 5 international sister cities [2]:

Outside Japan

• Santos (São Paulo), Brazil, since 1971
• Istanbul, Turkey, since 1972
• Busan, South Korea, since 1976
• Qingdao, China, since 1979
• Pittsburg, California, U.S., since 1998

Within Japan

• Kikugawa (Shizuoka Prefecture)

People

• Shinzo Abe (90th Prime Minister of Japan) (Hometown is located at the city of Nagato, but born in Tokyo)
• Takasugi Shinsaku
• Duncan Gordon Boyes
• Richard Henry Brunton
• Kinuyo Tanaka
• Yusaku Matsuda

External links

• Shimonoseki official website in Japanese
• Shimonoseki official website in other languages
• Shimonoseki travel guide from Wikitravel