Yamaguchi (city) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yamaguchi 山口市
City
Yamaguchi Xavier Memorial Church Yamaguchi Prefectural Government Museum Rurikō-ji five-story pagoda View of Yamaguchi Yamaguchi Satellite Earth Station
Flag Emblem
Location of Yamaguchi in Yamaguchi Prefecture
Yamaguchi Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku (San'yō)
Prefecture	Yamaguchi
Area
• Total	1,023.23 km2 (395.07 sq mi)
Population  (July 1, 2023)
• Total	191,470
• Density	187.123/km2 (484.647/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	2-1 Kameyama-cho, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken 753-8650
Climate	Cfa
Symbols Flower Rapeseed flowers, Sakura Tree Ginkgo

Yamaguchi City Hall

Aerial photograph of central Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi (山口市, Yamaguchi-shi) is the capital city of Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan. As of July 1, 2023, about 191,470 people live here. The city covers an area of about 1023 square kilometers (395 square miles).

Geography

Yamaguchi City is located in the middle of Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is the largest city in the prefecture by area. The city stretches from north to south. In the south, it touches the Seto Inland Sea. To the north, it shares a border with Shimane Prefecture.

The Fushino River flows through the center of the Yamaguchi Basin. Most of the city's buildings are found along both sides of this river.

Neighboring Cities and Towns

Yamaguchi City is surrounded by several other cities and towns.

• In Yamaguchi Prefecture:

* Hagi * Hōfu * Mine * Shūnan * Ube

• In Shimane Prefecture:

* Tsuwano * Yoshika

Climate

Yamaguchi has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot summers and cool winters. It rains a lot throughout the year. However, summer usually gets much more rain than winter.

Population Changes

The number of people living in Yamaguchi has changed over the years. Japan has been counting its population since 1960.

History

The area where Yamaguchi City is today was once part of an old province called Suō Province. During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), a powerful family called the Ōuchi clan ruled this area. At their strongest, they controlled six provinces in western Japan.

The Ōuchi clan became very rich by trading with Korea and China. They also welcomed smart people who came from Kyoto. Because of this, Yamaguchi became a center for culture and learning. Later, Christian missionaries from Spain and Portugal were also welcomed. This made Yamaguchi an early place for the Kirishitan (Christian) faith in Japan.

Eventually, the Ōuchi clan was taken over by another family, the Mōri clan. The Mōri clan then ruled the area during the Edo Period (1603-1868).

After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the town of Yamaguchi was officially created in 1889. Over the years, Yamaguchi grew by joining with nearby villages and towns. For example, in 1929, the town of Yamaguchi joined with Yoshiki village to become the city of Yamaguchi. The city continued to expand by merging with other towns and villages in 1941, 1944, 1963, 2005, and 2010.

Economy

Yamaguchi City is the capital of its prefecture. This means it has many government offices and public services. However, its main businesses are trade, tourism, and distributing goods.

Even though Yamaguchi has a large population, its industrial base is quite small. It doesn't have as many factories or big industries as some other cities.

Education

Yamaguchi City has many schools and colleges.

Colleges and Universities

• Yamaguchi College of Arts
• Yamaguchi Gakugei College
• Yamaguchi Prefectural University
• Yamaguchi University

Schools for Younger Students

The city government runs 32 public elementary schools and 17 public junior high schools. The Yamaguchi Prefectural Board of Education operates six public high schools.

There is also one national elementary school and one national junior high school. Plus, there are three private high schools. For students with special needs, there is one public special education school and two private ones.

Transportation

Getting around Yamaguchi is easy with different types of transport.

Trains

JR West operates several train lines:

• The San'yō Shinkansen is a high-speed bullet train line.
• The San'yō Main Line connects various stations.
• The Yamaguchi Line runs through the city and beyond.
• The Ube Line also serves the area.

Highways

Major highways pass through or near Yamaguchi City:

• San'yō Expressway
• Chūgoku Expressway
• Yamaguchi-Ube Road
• National Routes like country=JPN|Route|2, country=JPN|Route|9, and others.

Media

Yamaguchi has its own local media to keep people informed.

Newspapers

• Yamaguchi Shimbun is the local newspaper.

TV Stations

Several TV stations broadcast in Yamaguchi:

• YAB TV
• KRY TV
• NHK TV
• TYS TV

Sister Cities

Yamaguchi has special connections with cities in other countries. These are called "sister cities" or "twin towns."

Fun Places to Visit

Yamaguchi has many interesting places to explore:

• Chūya Nakahara Memorial Museum: A museum dedicated to the famous poet Chūya Nakahara.
• Rurikō-ji: A beautiful Buddhist temple with a famous five-story pagoda. This pagoda is considered a national treasure.
• Jōei-ji: Another Buddhist temple known for its lovely garden. This garden is a National Historic Site.
• Kōnomine Castle: The ruins of an old castle.
• Ōuchi-shi Yakata: The ruins of another historic castle.
• Yamaguchi Prefectural Museum of Art: A place to see amazing art.
• Yamaguchi Xavier Memorial Church: A church built to honor Saint Francis Xavier.
• Yuda Onsen: A famous hot spring area where you can relax.

Famous People from Yamaguchi City

Many notable people have come from Yamaguchi City:

• Yoshisuke Aikawa: The person who started the famous car company, Nissan.
• Daiki Kamikawa: An Olympic gold medalist in judo.
• Inoue Kaoru: A well-known politician and businessman.
• Terauchi Masatake: A former Prime Minister of Japan.
• Chuya Nakahara: A famous poet.
• Kishi Nobusuke: Another former Prime Minister of Japan.
• Shohei Ono: An Olympic gold medalist in judo.
• Raizō Tanaka: An admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy.

See also

In Spanish: Yamaguchi (Yamaguchi) para niños