Shimonoseki JapanShimonoseki Japan

Shimonoseki: a town with a 1000 year-old historyShimonoseki, situated on the westernmost end of the mainland of

Japan has prospered as a gateway to Eurasia as well as a strategic

stop for land and sea transport in the area.

The town, boasting attractive scenery along the Kanmon Strait, has

witnessed so many important events in Japan’s history that it forms

an integral part of its culture.

As the location of a famous naval battle in the War between the Genji

and the Heike clans in 1185, Shimonoseki played a key role in the

transition from aristocratic to warrior rule in Japan.

The city has places of natural beauty and historical interest typical of

a castle town, such as ancient samurai residences and clay walls.

Visitors will enjoy the distinctively Japanese atmosphere they exude.

With its wealth of historical sites, ethnic ambience, beautiful scenery

and Japanese food, Shimonoseki is a town that will capture your heart.

Ganryujima Island

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800 years ago the great “Genji” and “Heike” clans fought a decisive battle (the so-called Genji and Heike War in Dannoura) at “Dannoura” in Shimonoseki City. Of note are also the Akama Shrine dedicated to the 8-year old Emperor Antoku who sacrificed his life after his clan’s defeat in this war, “Ganryujima Island” where two samurais (Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro) clashed swords for the no.1 position in Japan 400 years ago, and the numerous footsteps of patriots who fought for construction of modern Japan under the Meiji Restoration. Steeped in a thousand years of history; -Shimonoseki remains vibrantly alive.

“Musical of 1,000 years of History” is performed in the Akama Shrine.

The War of Genji and Heike in 1185 radically changed the course of Japanese history. The aristocratic army “Heike” and the samurai army “Genji” fought the decisive Dannoura War of Genji and Heike in Shimonoseki after having conducted numerous skirmishes over several years in various regions of Japan. Having led Genji to victory “Minamoto no Yoshitsune” is still hailed as a great hero. When the Heike army finally lost in the war, the 8-year old Emperor Antoku drowned himself with his men in the whirlpool of the Kanmon Strait. Hugging him close, his grandmother “Nii-no-ama” told him “there is also a capital city in the sea” before jumping with him into the ocean. The full horrors of the war were introduced to the public through the gruesome epic of “Hoichi the Earless ” written by Irish born writer, Lafcadio Hearn.

“Chofu” is recorded in the oldest history books, and flourished as a castle-town in the Edo period 400 years ago. This notable district of Shimonoseki City still shows traces of bygone days. There are also many sights and places of historical and cultural interest in the City such as “Samurai-machi” named after the quarter where groups of samurai lived, the “Kozanji Temple” built 700 years ago and designated as a national treasure, and Chofu Mori Residence, a Japanese traditional 100 year-old dwelling.

Musashi was fundamentally a two-sword samurai but he used a boat-paddle longer than Kojiro’s long sword in order to cope with his oppo-nents unusually long sword. At 39.37 inches it is said that Kojiro’s sword was the longest among all samurai swords in those days.

Samurai town-the castle town of Chofu

Miyamoto Musashi Versus Sasaki Kojiro

Samurai town-the castle town of Chofu

Miyamoto Musashi Versus Sasaki Kojiro

Tsunoshima Island

TSUNOSHIMAISLAND

TSUKUNOHOT SPRING

KAWATANAHOT SPRING

ICHINOMATAHOT SPRING

KIKUGAWAHOT SPRING

TOYOTA LAKE

SHIMONOSEKI I.C

MOJIKO I.C

JR San-in Main Line

JR Sanyo Main Line

JR Sanyo Shinkansen

Chugoku Expreesway

Sanyo Expreesway

Kyushu Expreesway

Karato Area

Castle Town Chofu Area

Kanmon Bridge

Kanmon Walker Submarine TunnelKanmon Roadway Tunnel

MOJI I.C

OZUKI I.C

MINE-NISHI I.C

OZUKI Sta.

HABU I.C

SHIMONOSEKI JCT

SHIMONOSEKI Sta.

SHIN-SHIMONOSEKI Sta. CHOFU Sta.

TOGYOAN

HIKOSHIMAISLAND

MUTSUREJIMAISLAND

GANRYUJIMAISLAND

FUTAOIJIMAISLAND

to Yoshimi

to Nagato City

to Futaoijima

Akama Shrine Earless Hoichi

Kozanji Temple

Chofu Mori Residence Japanese garden“Chofu Teien” castle town Chofu

(Musashi)

Battle Island “Ganryujima Island”400 years ago, Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, both of whom were claimed to be strongest samurai , fought a l i f e - a n d - d e a t h f i g h t t o w i n t h eswordsman’s crown at “GanryujimaIsland” in the Kanmon Strait. Miyamoto Musashi won, but after his victory stopped dueling with anyone else. He later wrote a book on the secrets of swordsmanship entitled “Gorin-no-sho” (The Book of Five Rings).

Shimonoseki is surrounded to the south by Seto Inland Sea National Park and to the north by Kita-nagato Seaside Semi-national Park, both of which boast a rich natural environment and mystic scen-ery.As with Tsunoshima Island in the Sea of Japan, the setting for a Toyota Lexus commercial, a host of movies and various dramas, the scenic attractions of the Kanmon Strait are circumvented by 700 ships of all sizes daily. In particular, the beautiful night scene of the Kanmon Strait viewed from “Mt. Hinoyama” (Fire mountain) nearby the Strait will remain an unforgettable memory.“Mt. Hinoyama” owes its name to the fact that war beacons were cus-t omar i l y l i t on t h i s mountain in ages past.

The Kanmon Walker Submarine Tunnel

The Kanmon Walker Subma-rine Tunnel is a rare subma-rine tunnel through which one can pass through on foot. The 780 meter long tunnel, which features a display showing t h e m i d d l e p o i n t o f t h e Kanmon Strait is a rare feat of engineering. It is a popular tourist attraction. Fee: free of charge Hours of operation: 0600 to 2200 hours

Kaikyokan AquariumKaikyokan Aquarium is a landmark in the Kanmon Strait. It is an aquarium with some 100 varieties of puffer fish from the world’s oceans along with uniquely Japanese dolphins and sea lions shows. Both children and adults have a great time learning about mar ine creatures. (A new large scale exhibition facility for penguins will be opened in March, 2009) Business hours: 0930 to 1730 hours

Shimonoseki is famous as a health and beauty spa well-suited to relieve the weariness of a long journey. At the resorts, you can watch the sun rise or set or luxuriate in hot, medicinal spring water, sometimes supple-mented with cosmetically effective ingredients.

Bubble blowing displays by finless porpoises Finless porpoises blow truly amazing bubble rings in the water, a spectacle that can only be seen at this aquarium.

Hot spring resorts

Fugu sculpture

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There are a wide variety of local specialty products born in the City’s long history and unique culture. They maka ideal souvenir to take back home.

Specialty products of Shimonoseki

“Loser- friendly Shimonoseki”Shimonoseki is said to be a town friendly to losers rather than winners, as witnessedby its support for the “Heike” losers of the Genji and Heike War, or the “Kojiro” defeated by Musashi…….. The Shimonoseki Festivals are held to bring comfort to these losers.

The main iconic symbol of Shimonoseki is the sculptures of the “fugu” (blowfish or globefish), which provides inspiration for many artistic themes found throughout the city. The sculpture in the photograph is the one presented to Pittsburg City, Cali-fornia, on the first anniversary of its sister city relationship with Shimonoseki.

Kanmon Strait

Amusement

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Natural scenic attractionsHistory

of Shimonoseki

（KARATO AREA）

（KARATO AREA）

The War of the Genji and Heike clans The War of the Genji and Heike clans

(Kojiro)

Fugu full-course dinners and the Fugu sashimi dish (Artistic impression of fugu sashimi)

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Festival

A splendid fireworks display is staged by shooting around 13,000 fireworks into the night sky from both banks of the Kanmon Strait on August 13 every year. They form a delightful contrast with the beauty of the natural scene.(Held rain or shine but can-celled in inclement weather)

The Shimonoseki Strait Festival held every year on May 3 and 4 is a festival based on an actual historical event that took place in the Kanmon Strait.The Festival reenacts various historical events associated with Shimonoseki, such as the “Parade of court ladies of the Sentei(Former Emperor)Festival” of ladies dressed in gorgeous costumes, sea parades of more than 80 ships, and the “Samurai Parade” depicting the heroic march of Samurai War-riors in full armor.

Court ladies

Shimonoseki Japan

Location of Shimonoseki and access to the City Population: 292,000 Area: 276 square milesDistance to Shimonoseki from major cities Sapporo - 930 miles (Two hours and a half by air) Tokyo - 620 miles (Two hours by air) Kyoto - 280 miles (Three hours by Shinkansen bullet train) Osaka - 250 miles (Two hours and a half by Shinkansen bullet train)Hiroshima - 125 miles (One hour by Shinkansen bullet train)Fukuoka – 50 miles (Half an hour by Shinkansen bullet train)

Sentei-sai

Topics!Members of the party of the City Mayor of Pittsburg, California, sister city of Shimonoseki, were also dressed in historical costumes.

Surrounded by the sea on three sides, Shimonoseki is a veritable storehouse of fresh marine products. In particular, Shimonoseki boasts the largest fugu (blowfish or globefish) catch in Japan, and has begun exporting fresh fugu to the United States. The Fugu Dish served here is renowned for being delicious all year around. You really must savor the real fugu of Shimonoseki.

Shimonoseki City offers foreign group travelers lodging at accommodations in the City the opportunity to be dressed with-out charge in historical (warrior and female) costumes of 800 years ago and the distinctively Japanese Summer Kimono.

FoodCommemorativephoto of tourists in costume

The Shimonoseki Strait Festival

The Strait fireworks

Ethnic costumes

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DIVISION AT CITY HALL +81-83-231-9653http://www.city.shimonoseki.yamaguchi.jp/seisaku/kokusai/y_english/ E-mail sskokusa@city.shimonoseki.yamaguchi.jp

Fugu full-course dinners and the Fugu sashimi dish (Artistic impression of fugu sashimi)

（KARATO AREA）

（KARATO AREA）

BUSAN

SHIMONOSEKI　

500mile

1000mile

FUKUOKA

KYOTO

OSAKA●

TOKYO

SAPPORO

HIROSHIMA

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SEOUL

BEIJING

QINGDAO

SHANGHAI

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