Overview
Shimonoseki guards the Kanmon Straits where Honshu meets Kyushu, a waterway so strategically vital it shaped Japanese history. The city is famous worldwide for fugu (pufferfish), prepared by specially licensed chefs with a 70% failure rate on their certification exam.
Day Trips · History · Transit Hub
Before you go
Connectivity
Internet access available at Kaikyo Yume Tower through Yamaguchi International Exchange Association (Tu-Su 10:00-20:00). Youth hostel offers free WiFi.
Food
Fugu set meals near the port start around ¥1,100. Karato Ichiba Fish Market (04:00-12:00) offers fresh sushi and sashimi from ¥100-500 per piece.
Money
Japan is predominantly cash-based outside major cities. Convenience stores and department stores accept cards, but many local restaurants and markets prefer cash.
Transport
JR Shimonoseki Station and JR Shin-Shimonoseki Station both have tourist information. The Shinkansen-only Kodama trains stop at Shin-Shimonoseki.
