Shimonoseki
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Shimonoseki (下関市, Shimonoseki-shi) is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It is at the southwestern tip of Honshu, 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
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.
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.
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
- 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
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)
- 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
- Chofu Tourist Hall
- Chofu Shopping Street
- You me town Chofu (shopping center)
Sightseeing
- Streets with earthen walls
- Kōzan-ji (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)[1]
Shin-Shimonoseki Station, Ayaragi, Yasuoka, Yoshimi
Shops
- You me town Shin-Shimonoseki
Sightseeing
- Sumiyoshi shrine (National treasure)
- Shimonoseki Fishing Park
- Shimonoseki Baseball Stadium
- 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)
- Toyota Kohan Park Campground
- Tokusen no Taki Campground
Kikugawa
Sightseeing
- Kikugawa Onsen (hotspring)
- Roadside Station Kikugawa
- Kikugawa Natural Village Campground
Houhoku
Sightseeing
- Tsunoshima (island)
- Takibe Onsen (hotspring)
- 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
- The main Shinkansen 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
- Sanyō Main Line
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
- Shimonoseki interchange
- Ozuki interchange
Bypasses
- Ozuki Bypass
- Shimonoseki-Kita Bypass
National Highways
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
Institution | Location |
---|---|
National Fisheries University (水産大学校, Suisan daigakkō) | Yoshimi |
Shimonoseki City University | Daigaku-cho |
University of East Asia | Shin-Shimonoseki |
Baiko Gakuin University | Higashieki |
Shimonoseki Junior College | Sakurayama-cho |
Culture
Popular Foods
Specialty Products
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.[2]
Twin cities
Shimonoseki has one domestic and 5 international sister cities [2]:
- Santos (São Paulo), Brazil, since 1971
- Istanbul, Turkey, since 1972
- Busan, South Korea, since 1976
- Qingdao, China, since 1979
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, since 1995
- Pittsburg, California, U.S., since 1998
- Kikugawa, Shizuoka, Japan
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
References
- ^ Mansfield, Stephen, "Step back in time down Chofu way", Japan Times, 7 August 2011, p. 10.
- ^ "The 7th President announces the succession, The Goda-ikka, The Prefectural Police on red alert", 21 October 2009, Yamaguchi Shimbun Template:Ja icon
External links
- Official website Template:Ja icon
- Shimonoseki official website in other languages
- Template:Wikitravelpar