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

It is known for "Fugu" or globefish/pufferfish/blowfish, as this is where the largest catch of these fish is taken in Japan each year.

The city was founded on April 1, 1889.

The geographical position of Shimonoseki has given it historical importance, especially with the Bombardment of Shimonoseki and the Treaty of Shimonoseki, where a defeated China handed over Taiwan, the Pescadores, and Port Arthur to the victorious Japanese.

Facts

• As of 2000, the city has an estimated population of 301,097 and the density of 1,111.82 persons per km². The total area is 715.83 km².
• Shimonoseki city merged with Toyoura District (Toyota,Toyoura,Kikugawa,Hohoku). (February 13, 2005)

See also

• Bombardment of Shimonoseki (1864)
• Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895)
• The former British Consulate at Shimonoseki

Main sightseeing spots and institutions

The area of JR Shimonoseki station and Karato

• KAIKYOKAN (Aquarium)
• KARATO MARKET
• NAGATO MARKET
• GREEN MALL (The shopping arcade of the South Korean style.)
• SEA MALL (The largest shopping center in West Japan.)
• KAIKYO YUME TOWER (KAIKYO Messe Shimonoseki)
• Shimonoseki Port International Terminal (Pusan, Qingdao, Shanghai)
• Shimonoseki Port
• Yamaguchi Bank Co.,Ltd. (The head office)
• Hayashikane Sangyo Co.,Ltd. (The main office)
• MT.HINOYAMA
• KAMONWHARF
• FORMER BRITISH CONSULATE
• AKAMA SHRINE etc.

The area of Castle town Chofu

• Street with earthen walls
• Kozanji (Temple, National treasure)
• Shimonoseki City Art Museum
• Chofu Garden etc.

The area of Toyoura

• KAWATANA ONSEN (Hot spring)

The area of Houhoku

• TUNOSIMA (island)

Regular services

• The Kanpu ferry plies between Shimonoseki Port International Terminal and Pusan in South Korea regularly.
• The Orient ferry plies between Shimonoseki Port International Terminal and Qingdao in China regularly.
• The Orient ferry plies between Shimonoseki Port International Terminal and Shanghai in China regularly. (This route is a plan in 2005)

Traffic

• The main JR Nishi Nihon stations (Sanyo Main Line and San'in Main Line)
  • Shimonoseki station
  • Shin-shimonoseki station
  • Hatabu station
  • Ozuki station
  • Kawatana-onsen station
• The main JR stations (Sanyo Shinkansen)
  • Shin-shimonoseki station
• Bus
  • Bus company (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)
    • Between Various parts of the Shimonoseki city and Tokyo
    • Between Various parts of the Shimonoseki city and Osaka, Kobe
    • Between Various parts of the Shimonoseki city and Hiroshima
    • Between Various parts of the Shimonoseki city and Fukuoka
    • Between Various parts of the Shimonoseki city and Fukuoka Airport etc.
• Highway (Chugoku jidousyadou)
  • Shimonoseki interchange
  • Ozuki interchange
• Surrounding airports
  • Fukuoka Airport
  • New Kitakyushu Airport (Kitakyushu Airport)
  • Yamaguchi-Ube airport (Only for domestic flights)

External links

• Official website in Japanese
• Official website in English