Shimonoseki

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Shimonoseki
下関
Core city
下関市 · Shimonoseki
Downtown Shimonoseki

Flag
Location of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture
Shimonoseki
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°57′N 130°56′E / 33.950°N 130.933°E / 33.950; 130.933Coordinates: 33°57′N 130°56′E / 33.950°N 130.933°E / 33.950; 130.933
Country Japan
Region Chūgoku (San'yō)
Prefecture Yamaguchi Prefecture
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)
Symbols
- Tree Camphor Laurel
- Flower Crinum asiaticum
Address 1-1 Nanbu, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi-ken
750-8521
Phone number 083-231-1111
Website www.city.shimonoseki.yamaguchi.jp

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 is known for the locally caught pufferfish and is the largest harvester of the pufferfish in Japan.

As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 280,386 and a population density of 391.52 persons per km². The total area is 716.14 km².

History

The Heike and Genji fought at Dan-no-ura near the present Kanmonkyo Bridge.

The city prior to 1902 was commonly known as Bakan (馬関) and formally Akamagaseki).

On February 13, 2005, Shimonoseki absorbed the towns of Hōhoku, Kikugawa, Toyota and Toyoura (all from Toyoura District) to create the new and expanded 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
Battle of Dannoura in 1185

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.

An Imperial decree in July 1899 established Shimonoseki as an open port for trading with the United States and the United Kingdom.[1]

Kōzan-ji 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.

Climate

Shimonoseki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heavier in summer.

Climate data for Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 8.5
(47.3)		 9.0
(48.2)		 12.3
(54.1)		 17.4
(63.3)		 21.5
(70.7)		 24.7
(76.5)		 28.8
(83.8)		 30.3
(86.5)		 26.8
(80.2)		 21.8
(71.2)		 16.6
(61.9)		 11.4
(52.5)		 19.09
(66.35)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.8
(42.4)		 6.0
(42.8)		 8.9
(48)		 13.7
(56.7)		 17.8
(64)		 21.3
(70.3)		 25.6
(78.1)		 27.0
(80.6)		 23.5
(74.3)		 18.3
(64.9)		 13.3
(55.9)		 8.5
(47.3)		 15.81
(60.44)
Average low °C (°F) 3.4
(38.1)		 3.5
(38.3)		 5.9
(42.6)		 10.6
(51.1)		 14.8
(58.6)		 18.7
(65.7)		 23.3
(73.9)		 24.6
(76.3)		 20.8
(69.4)		 15.4
(59.7)		 10.5
(50.9)		 5.9
(42.6)		 13.12
(55.6)
Precipitation mm (inches) 73.5
(2.894)		 76.8
(3.024)		 108.5
(4.272)		 158.4
(6.236)		 161.3
(6.35)		 278.5
(10.965)		 264.2
(10.402)		 126.8
(4.992)		 179.7
(7.075)		 95.1
(3.744)		 78.7
(3.098)		 58.2
(2.291)		 1,659.7
(65.343)
Snowfall cm (inches) 5
(2)		 5
(2)		 1
(0.4)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1
(0.4)		 12
(4.8)
% humidity 65 66 68 73 75 80 82 78 76 70 69 66 72.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 89.7 106.1 165.9 176.0 200.7 159.0 183.0 213.2 164.4 177.6 132.2 100.0 1,867.8
Source: NOAA (1961-1990) [2]

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.
  • Hayashikane Sangyo Co., Ltd.
  • Chofu Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
  • Harakosan Co., Ltd.
  • Minato-Yamaguchi Co., Ltd.

Main sightseeing spots and institutions

Shimonoseki Station
Kanmon Straits seen from space, Shimonoseki on the right, Kitakyushu on the left
Kanmon Straight Bridge
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, Hohoku, Shimonoseki
Tsunoshima Bridge

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

Akama Shrine

JR Shimonoseki Station and Buzenda

Shops

  • Sea Mall Shimonoseki (the 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 )
  • The Nagato Market, a local farmers' market which sells a fresh fish, fresh vegetables, etc.

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 (268.2 m)
  • 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)[3]

Shin-Shimonoseki Station, Ayaragi, Yasuoka, Yoshimi

Shops

  • You me City 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

Trains

JR network map

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.

Roads

Expressway

Chūgoku Expressway
  • Shimonoseki interchange
  • Ozuki interchange

Bypasses

  • Ozuki Bypass
  • Shimonoseki-Kita Bypass

National Highways

Airports

Shimonoseki is served by four airports outside the city.

Education

Universities and colleges

University of East Asia

Culture

Regional specialties

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

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

Sporting venues

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.[4]

Twin cities

Shimonoseki has one Japanese and five international sister cities :

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ US Department of State. (1906). A digest of international law as embodied in diplomatic discussions, treaties and other international agreements (John Bassett Moore, ed.), Vol. 5, p. 759.
  2. ↑ "Shimonoseki Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 6, 2013. 
  3. ↑ Mansfield, Stephen, "Step back in time down Chofu way", Japan Times, 7 August 2011, p. 10.
  4. ↑ "The 7th President announces the succession, The Goda-ikka, The Prefectural Police on red alert", 21 October 2009, Yamaguchi Shimbun (Japanese)

External links

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