Shimonoseki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shimonoseki
下関市
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Central Shimonoseki and Kanmon Strait
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 Shimonoseki
Location in Yamaguchi Prefecture
Shimonoseki
Location in Japan
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| Country | Japan | ||||||||||||||||
| Region | Chūgoku (San'yō) | ||||||||||||||||
| Prefecture | Yamaguchi | ||||||||||||||||
| As Akamagaseki | April 1, 1889 | ||||||||||||||||
| As Shimonoseki | June 1, 1902 | ||||||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||||||
| • Total | 716.18 km2 (276.52 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||
| Population
(June 30, 2023)
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| • Total | 248,193 | ||||||||||||||||
| • Density | 346.5511/km2 (897.563/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) | ||||||||||||||||
| City hall address | 1-1 Nanbu, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi-ken 750-8521 |
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| Climate | Cfa | ||||||||||||||||
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Shimonoseki (Japanese: 下関市, Hepburn: Shimonoseki-shi) is a vibrant city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It sits at the very western tip of Japan's main island, Honshu. As of June 30, 2023, about 248,193 people called Shimonoseki home. The city covers an area of about 716 square kilometers. It is the biggest city in Yamaguchi Prefecture and the fifth largest in the Chūgoku region by population. Shimonoseki is especially famous as the 'home of Fugu' (pufferfish), catching more of this special fish than anywhere else in Japan!
Contents
- Discovering Shimonoseki
- See also
Discovering Shimonoseki
A City with a Long Past
Shimonoseki has a very long and interesting history! For many centuries, it was an important gateway between Japan's main island, Honshu, and other parts of Asia like Kyushu, China, and the Korean peninsula.
Ancient stories say that Emperor Chuai built a palace here during the Kofun period, long, long ago. The name 'Shimonoseki' first appeared in old papers from 869 AD. It was known as a checkpoint for ships entering the Seto Inland Sea. Later, it was often called 'Akamanoseki'.
A famous sea battle, the Battle of Dan-no-ura, happened near here in 1185. Two powerful families, the Heike and Genji, fought for control of Japan in this important event.
During the Muromachi period, a strong family called the Ōuchi clan controlled this area. They managed important trade and diplomatic visits from Ming China and Joseon Korea. Later, in the Edo period, the Mōri clan ruled this region.
In 1691, a German explorer named Engelbert Kaempfer visited Shimonoseki. He described it as a busy port with many houses, supplying ships with what they needed.
In 1864, there was a conflict called the Bombardment of Shimonoseki. Later, in 1895, an important peace agreement called the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed here. This treaty ended a war between Japan and China. In 1899, Shimonoseki became an open port, meaning ships from countries like the United States and the United Kingdom could trade here.
The city was officially founded on April 1, 1889, and was first called Akamagaseki. It changed its name to Shimonoseki on June 1, 1902.
On February 13, 2005, Shimonoseki grew bigger by joining with several nearby towns. Since October 1, 2005, it has been a 'core city,' which means it has more local control over its own affairs.
Where is Shimonoseki?
Shimonoseki is located at the very western tip of Yamaguchi Prefecture and also the westernmost point of Honshu, Japan's main island.
It has the Sea of Japan to its west and the Seto Inland Sea to its south. These two seas are connected by the Kanmon Straits. The city stretches long from north to south and looks a bit like a fan opening towards the Seto Inland Sea. Two rivers, the Asa River and the Ariho River, flow through the city and into the Seto Inland Sea.
Nearby Cities
Shimonoseki shares borders with these cities in Yamaguchi Prefecture:
- Mine
- Nagato
- San'yō-Onoda
Shimonoseki's Weather
Shimonoseki has a warm, wet climate. Summers are hot, and winters are cool. It rains quite a lot all year, especially in summer.
| Climate data for Shimonoseki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1883−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 19.1 (66.4) |
23.7 (74.7) |
26.6 (79.9) |
29.7 (85.5) |
30.9 (87.6) |
33.7 (92.7) |
36.2 (97.2) |
37.0 (98.6) |
35.0 (95.0) |
30.6 (87.1) |
26.9 (80.4) |
26.2 (79.2) |
37.0 (98.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.7 (49.5) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.7 (56.7) |
18.4 (65.1) |
22.7 (72.9) |
25.8 (78.4) |
29.7 (85.5) |
31.3 (88.3) |
27.8 (82.0) |
23.0 (73.4) |
17.5 (63.5) |
12.3 (54.1) |
20.2 (68.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) |
7.5 (45.5) |
10.3 (50.5) |
14.7 (58.5) |
19.1 (66.4) |
22.5 (72.5) |
26.5 (79.7) |
27.9 (82.2) |
24.6 (76.3) |
19.7 (67.5) |
14.5 (58.1) |
9.5 (49.1) |
17.0 (62.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 4.8 (40.6) |
4.9 (40.8) |
7.4 (45.3) |
11.6 (52.9) |
16.2 (61.2) |
20.1 (68.2) |
24.2 (75.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
22.2 (72.0) |
16.9 (62.4) |
11.8 (53.2) |
7.0 (44.6) |
14.4 (57.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −6.3 (20.7) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
0.5 (32.9) |
6.5 (43.7) |
9.5 (49.1) |
15.1 (59.2) |
17.5 (63.5) |
12.8 (55.0) |
5.9 (42.6) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 80.0 (3.15) |
75.9 (2.99) |
121.2 (4.77) |
130.8 (5.15) |
154.2 (6.07) |
253.6 (9.98) |
309.4 (12.18) |
190.0 (7.48) |
162.6 (6.40) |
83.7 (3.30) |
81.9 (3.22) |
69.1 (2.72) |
1,712.3 (67.41) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 1 (0.4) |
1 (0.4) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2 (0.8) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9.3 | 9.1 | 10.1 | 9.6 | 8.7 | 11.3 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 8.5 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 109.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 1 cm) | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 63 | 63 | 65 | 67 | 70 | 78 | 79 | 75 | 73 | 67 | 66 | 63 | 69 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 95.8 | 116.1 | 162.9 | 187.6 | 207.1 | 146.6 | 172.4 | 207.2 | 161.9 | 176.3 | 134.7 | 102.6 | 1,875.9 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Toyota, Shimonoseki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.7 (62.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
25.1 (77.2) |
28.4 (83.1) |
31.4 (88.5) |
32.2 (90.0) |
35.7 (96.3) |
36.2 (97.2) |
35.0 (95.0) |
30.7 (87.3) |
26.0 (78.8) |
23.2 (73.8) |
36.2 (97.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.7 (47.7) |
9.8 (49.6) |
13.4 (56.1) |
18.6 (65.5) |
23.1 (73.6) |
25.9 (78.6) |
29.3 (84.7) |
30.7 (87.3) |
27.2 (81.0) |
22.3 (72.1) |
16.7 (62.1) |
11.2 (52.2) |
19.7 (67.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.6 (38.5) |
4.4 (39.9) |
7.5 (45.5) |
12.4 (54.3) |
17.3 (63.1) |
21.2 (70.2) |
25.1 (77.2) |
25.9 (78.6) |
22.0 (71.6) |
16.1 (61.0) |
10.4 (50.7) |
5.4 (41.7) |
14.3 (57.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.1 (30.0) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
1.7 (35.1) |
6.1 (43.0) |
11.4 (52.5) |
17.0 (62.6) |
21.6 (70.9) |
22.1 (71.8) |
17.8 (64.0) |
10.8 (51.4) |
5.0 (41.0) |
0.5 (32.9) |
9.3 (48.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −7.9 (17.8) |
−9.1 (15.6) |
−6.2 (20.8) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
0.0 (32.0) |
5.5 (41.9) |
12.0 (53.6) |
14.3 (57.7) |
4.6 (40.3) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−9.1 (15.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 90.8 (3.57) |
88.3 (3.48) |
140.5 (5.53) |
151.4 (5.96) |
183.7 (7.23) |
272.5 (10.73) |
342.8 (13.50) |
201.2 (7.92) |
167.8 (6.61) |
93.3 (3.67) |
88.2 (3.47) |
83.1 (3.27) |
1,899.1 (74.77) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.3 | 10.7 | 11.6 | 10.0 | 9.5 | 12.4 | 11.6 | 9.9 | 9.5 | 7.7 | 9.3 | 11.1 | 124.6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 99.8 | 107.6 | 156.1 | 182.9 | 206.1 | 137.0 | 152.6 | 189.8 | 151.6 | 169.5 | 134.5 | 103.9 | 1,791.3 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency | |||||||||||||
Population of Shimonoseki
According to the 2020 census, Shimonoseki had 255,051 residents. The city has been counting its population since 1920.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1920 | 192,840 | — |
| 1925 | 213,109 | +10.5% |
| 1930 | 222,702 | +4.5% |
| 1935 | 237,248 | +6.5% |
| 1940 | 261,549 | +10.2% |
| 1945 | 261,982 | +0.2% |
| 1950 | 280,949 | +7.2% |
| 1955 | 308,799 | +9.9% |
| 1960 | 317,029 | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 317,146 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 315,603 | −0.5% |
| 1975 | 322,300 | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 325,478 | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 324,585 | −0.3% |
| 1990 | 315,643 | −2.8% |
| 1995 | 310,717 | −1.6% |
| 2000 | 301,097 | −3.1% |
| 2005 | 290,693 | −3.5% |
| 2010 | 280,987 | −3.3% |
| 2015 | 268,517 | −4.4% |
| 2020 | 255,051 | −5.0% |
| Shimonoseki population statistics | ||
How Shimonoseki is Governed
Shimonoseki has a local government with a mayor, who is chosen by the people, and a city council with 34 members. The city also sends ten members to the Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly, which helps run the wider region.
For national politics, Shimonoseki is part of a special area that elects members to Japan's national parliament. A very famous politician, Shinzo Abe, who was once Japan's Prime Minister, represented Shimonoseki in the national parliament from 1993 until 2022.
Shimonoseki's Economy
Because it's a port city, Shimonoseki has always been important for shipping, trade, and money matters. It remains a key economic hub for the Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Learning in Shimonoseki
Universities and Colleges
- Baiko Gakuin University
- Baiko Gakuin University Women's Junior College
- National Fisheries University
- Shimonoseki City University
- Shimonoseki Junior College
- University of East Asia
Primary and Secondary Schools
Shimonoseki has many schools for kids of all ages. There are 41 public elementary schools, 21 public junior high schools, and several public and private high schools. There are also special schools for students with unique learning needs.
Getting Around Shimonoseki
Railway
JR West – San'yō Shinkansen
- Shin-Shimonoseki
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JR West (JR West) - San'yō Main Line
- Ozuki - Yamaguchi - Shin-Shimonoseki - Hatabu - Shimonoseki
JR West (JR West) - San'in Main Line
- Nagato-Awano - Agawa - Kottoi - Takibe - Nagato-Futami - Ukahongō - Yutama - Kogushi - Kawatana-Onsen - Kuroimura - Umegatō - Yoshimi - Fukue - Yasuoka - Kajikuri-Gōdaichi - Ayaragi - Hatabu - Shimonoseki
Highways
Chugoku Expressway
National Route 2
National Route 9
National Route 191
National Route 435
National Route 491
Ferries from Shimonoseki Port
You can take a ferry from Shimonoseki Port to:
A ferry service to Qingdao, China, used to run but stopped in November 2015.
Sister Cities Around the World
Shimonoseki is twinned with these cities:
Fun Things to See and Do
Festivals
Shimonoseki hosts many exciting festivals throughout the year. Some of the most famous are the Shimonoseki Kaikyo Festival and Shimonoseki Bakan Festival.
- Shimonoseki Fugu Festival (February): Held at Haedomari Market.
- Kawatana Onsen Festival (April)
- Shimonoseki Kaikyo Festival (May): Takes place at Karato and Ganryujima Island.
- Suhouteisai Festival (August): Celebrated in the castle town of Chofu.
- Kanmon Kaikyo Fireworks Festival (August): Enjoy fireworks at Karato (Aruka Port area).
- Shimonoseki Bakan Festival (August): A lively festival along the street from Karato-cho to Shimonoseki Station.
- TOUR de Shimonoseki (October/November)
- Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon (November)
- Shimonoseki Fish Festival (November): Held at Shimonoseki Fishing Port.
- Little Busan Fest (November): Takes place at Green Mall.
Amazing Architecture
- Akama Shrine
- Kaikyō Yume Tower
- Kōzan-ji - Its main hall, built in 1320, is a National Treasure of Japan.
Museums to Explore
- Doigahama Site Anthropological Museum
- The Firefly Museum of Toyota Town
- Shimonoseki City Archaeological Museum
- Shimonoseki City Art Museum
- Shimonoseki City Museum of History
- Shimonoseki Marine Science Museum (Shimonoseki City Aquarium) (Kaikyo Kan)
- The Yamagin Archive (やまぎん史料館) of the Yamaguchi Bank
Parks and Monuments
Mimosusogawa Park is a special place that remembers the end of the Genpei War, a big conflict between two powerful families long ago. You can see historical monuments and cannons there.
Sports Fun
Professional Teams
- FC Baleine Shimonoseki (Football)
Sporting Venues
- Nogihama General Park (Football stadium)
- Shimonoseki Baseball Stadium
- Shimonoseki Boat Race Stadium (Shimonoseki Kyōtei)
- Shimonoseki City Gymnasium
- Shimonoseki city swimming pool
- Shimonoseki Track and field stadium
Famous People from Shimonoseki
- Arata Izumi (Indian footballer)
- Yūsaku Matsuda
- Toshihiro Nagoshi (video game director, game designer and producer)
- Atsushi Tamura (Comedian, actor and singer)
- Kinuyo Tanaka, actress
- Kaoru Wada, (composer and arranger)
See also
In Spanish: Shimonoseki para niños
