Country Area 716.14 km2 Mayor Tomoaki Nakao (since 2009) | Population 280,947 (2010) Region ChugokuSanyo | |
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Map of Shimonoseki
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.
Contents
- Map of Shimonoseki
- Shimonosekis kaikyoukan aquarium
- Shimonoseki fishmarket 22
- History
- Climate
- Major companies and institutes
- Ferries from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal
- Trains
- Buses
- Expressway
- Bypasses
- National Highways
- Airports
- Universities and colleges
- Primary and secondary schools
- Regional specialties
- Specialty products
- Festivals
- Architecture
- Museums
- Professional Teams
- Sporting venues
- Crime and safety
- Twin cities
- Notable people
- References
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, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 265,684 and a population density of 370 persons per km². The total area is 716.14 km².
Shimonosekis kaikyoukan aquarium
Shimonoseki fishmarket 22
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 (馬關) and formally Akamagaseki (赤間關).
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.
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 (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heavier in summer.
Major companies and institutes
Ferries from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal
Trains
Buses
Regular bus services are provided by Sanden Kohtsu, as well as by group companies of Sanden Kohtsu.
Expressway
Bypasses
National Highways
Airports
Shimonoseki is served by four airports outside the city.
Universities and colleges
Primary and secondary schools
The city has a North Korean school, Yamaguchi Korean Elementary and Junior High School (山口朝鮮初中級学校). It formerly housed two other North Korean schools, Yamaguchi Korean High School and Shimonoseki Korean Elementary and Junior High School (下関朝鮮初中級学校).
As a city of a quarter million people, it has some public schools too.
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.
Architecture
Museums
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.
Twin cities
Shimonoseki has one Japanese and six international sister cities: