Shimonoseki


Shimonoseki is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
As of October 1, 2016, Shimonoseki has a population of 265,684, making it the largest city in Yamaguchi Prefecture and the fifth-largest city in the Chūgoku region. It is located at the southwestern tip of Honshu facing the Tsushima Strait at the entrance to the Kanmon Straits across from the city of Kitakyushu and the island of Kyushu. It is nicknamed the "Fugu Capital" for the locally caught pufferfish, and is the largest harvester of the pufferfish in Japan.

History

The Heike and Genji fought at Dan-no-ura near the present Kanmonkyo Bridge.
The city prior to 1902 was commonly known as and formally.
On February 13, 2005, Shimonoseki absorbed the towns of Hōhoku, Kikugawa, Toyota and Toyoura 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.
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.
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 with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heavier in summer.

Transportation

Ferries from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal

Regular bus services are provided by Sanden Kohtsu, as well as by group companies of Sanden Kohtsu.

Expressway

;Chūgoku Expressway
Shimonoseki is served by four airports outside the city.

Universities and colleges

The city has a North Korean school, Yamaguchi Korean Elementary and Junior High School. It formerly housed two other North Korean schools, Yamaguchi Korean High School and Shimonoseki Korean Elementary and Junior High School.
As a city of a quarter million people, it has some public schools too.

Culture

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.

Professional Teams

The Goda-ikka yakuza syndicate is headquartered in Shimonoseki. A designated yakuza group, the Goda-ikka is the largest yakuza syndicate in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Twin towns – sister cities

Shimonoseki is twinned with: