Shimonoseki

Shimonoseki is a port city along the Kanmon Straits between Honshu and Kyushu islands in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The city spreads along the coastline and serves as a crossing point for ships, ferries, and road traffic moving between the two islands.

A treaty signed here in the late 19th century ended a war between Japan and China and established new borders. That event marked a turning point in the region and shaped East Asian politics for decades to come.

The Karato market district draws locals and visitors each morning to buy fresh fish directly from vendors. You can watch chefs carefully cut and prepare the fugu at the stalls before it goes on sale.

The international ferry terminal links the city with ports in South Korea and China and is easy to reach by public transport. If you go to the fish market early in the morning, you see the most activity and the freshest selection.

The waters off the coast supply most of the fugu consumed in Japan, making the city the main hub for this fish. Many restaurants here specialize in pufferfish dishes that are harder to find elsewhere.

Location: Yamaguchi Prefecture

Inception: April 1, 1889

Shares border with: Nagato, Mine, Sanyo-Onoda, Kitakyushu

Website: https://city.shimonoseki.lg.jp

GPS coordinates: 33.95789,130.94133

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:02