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Shimonoseki

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Shimonoseki is a large city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

141122 Shimonoseki City Hall Yamaguchi pref Japan01s3
141122 Shimonoseki City Hall Yamaguchi pref Japan01s3

It sits at the westernmost point of Honshu island. The city is the largest in its prefecture. It is also the fifth-largest city in the Chūgoku region.

Shimonoseki jrnetwork
Shimonoseki jrnetwork

Many people know it as the "home of Fugu." This is because the city catches more pufferfish than any other place in Japan. The city is a busy place for shipping and trade. It serves as an important center for the local economy.

The city has a very interesting shape. It is long from north to south and looks like a fan.

Choshu-Battery-Capture-Shimonoseki-1864
Choshu-Battery-Capture-Shimonoseki-1864

This fan shape opens out toward the Seto Inland Sea. The Sea of Japan sits to the west of the city. The Kanmon Straits separate the city from the southern sea. Two rivers flow through this area to the water. The Asa River flows from the north to the center. The Ariho River flows from the northeast toward the east.

JR logo (west)
JR logo (west)

Shimonoseki has a very long and deep history. In ancient times, it was part of Nagato Province. It has always been a gateway to the island of Honshu. The city was once called Akamanoseki during the Kamakura period. Long ago, the Heike and Genji groups fought at the Battle of Dan-no-ura. This battle happened near the Kanmon Bridge.

AntokuTennou Engi.7&8 Dannoura Kassen
AntokuTennou Engi.7&8 Dannoura Kassen

In 1895, leaders signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki here. Later, in 1899, the city became an open port for trade. This allowed ships from the United States and the United Kingdom to visit.

There are many important facts about the city today. The population was about 255,051 people in 2020.

University of East Asia
University of East Asia

The city is run by a mayor and a council of 34 members. Many students live here to attend various colleges. These include the University of East Asia and the National Fisheries University. The weather is often warm and humid. Summers are hot and winters are cool. It rains quite a bit, especially during the summer months.

Visitors can find many wonderful things to see and do. You might visit the Kōzan-ji Temple, which is a national treasure.

Kozanji Temple (Shimonoseki)
Kozanji Temple (Shimonoseki)

The city also has a large marine science museum. There are many festivals held throughout the year. Some people enjoy the Shimonoseki Kaikyo Festival in May. Others like the Shimonoseki Fugu Festival in February. You can even take ferries to visit places like Busan in South Korea. The city connects many different people and places through its waters.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:141122 Shimonoseki City Hall Yamaguchi pref Japan01s3.jpg
141122 Shimonoseki City Hall Yamaguchi...
File:Choshu-Battery-Capture-Shimonoseki-1864.jpg
Choshu-Battery-Capture-Shimonoseki-1864.jpg
File:Kozanji Temple (Shimonoseki).JPG
Kozanji Temple (Shimonoseki).JPG
File:AntokuTennou Engi.7&8 Dannoura Kassen.jpg
AntokuTennou Engi.7&8 Dannoura Kassen.jpg
File:University of East Asia.jpg
University of East Asia.jpg
File:Shimonoseki jrnetwork.png
Shimonoseki jrnetwork.png
File:JR logo (west).svg
JR logo (west).svg
File:JP Expressway E2A.svg
JP Expressway E2A.svg
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