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. [edit] Description The city was founded on April 1, 1889. It is known for fugu, as this is where the largest catch of these fish is taken in Japan each year. The city has a population of 290,693 (as of January 1, 2006) with a density of 406.1 persons per km². The total area is 715.89 km². 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. 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. Tomoaki Nakao (2009 -) [edit] Consulate Honorary Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea in Shimonoseki [edit] Economy [edit] Major companies and institutes  Port of Shimonoseki (Hanano-cho Port Area) - Yamaguchi Financial Group, Inc.
- Hayashikane Sangyo Co., Ltd.
- Chofu Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
- Harakosan Co., Ltd.
- Minato-Yamaguchi Co., Ltd.
[edit] 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. - 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])
- Nagato Market (The Nagato market is a local market which sells a fresh fish, fresh vegetables, etc.)
- Daiso (100-yen shop, Over 2,350m2)
- Deodeo (electronics store)
- Sightseeing
- 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)
- Shops
- SunLive Karato(Shopping center)
- Karato shopping street
- Kamon 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)
- 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
- 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 - a shrine dedicated to the memory of General Nogi Maresuke
- Shimonoseki Marin Hot Springs
- Others
- Chofu Seisakusho.,Ltd. (main office)
- 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
- Tōgyō-an
- Yutani Onsen (hotspring)
- Sightseeing
- Sightseeing
- Beaches and Camping
- Toyota Kohan Park Campground
- Tokusen no Taki Campground
- Sightseeing
- Beaches and Camping
- Kikugawa Natural Village Campground
- Sightseeing
- Beaches and Camping
- Cobalt Blue Beach
- Doigahama Chuo Beach
- Akada Beach
- Doigahama Campground
[edit] Transportation [edit] Ferries from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal [edit] Trains 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.
[edit] Expressway - Chūgoku Expressway
- Shimonoseki interchange
- Ozuki interchange
[edit] Bypasses - Ozuki Bypass
- Shimonoseki-Kita Bypass
[edit] National Highways [edit] Airports Shimonoseki is served by four airports outside the city. [edit] Education [edit] Universities and colleges [edit] Culture [edit] Popular Foods [edit] Specialty Products [edit] 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
[edit] Architecture [edit] 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
- やまぎん史料館(The Yamaguchi Bank, Ltd.)
[edit] Sports [edit] Professional Teams [edit] Sporting venues [edit] Twin cities Shimonoseki has one domestic and 5 international sister cities [2]: [edit] 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 [edit] Within Japan [edit] People [edit] External links
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