What to Do in Shimonoseki

Shimonoseki is a uniquely located city set along the coast and surrounded by mountains. To get a feel for the whole city take a hike up the neighbouring Hinoyama Mountain, home to the Hinoyama Park which offers panoramic views over the city and the distinctive Kanmon Bridge. Reaching the park takes around one hour for those travelling by foot from the JR Shimonoseki Station but can also be reached in a short car trip or via the ropeway which is open from March until November, 10am to 5pm.

Visit Akama Shrine

Just a short walk from Karato Market, the impressive red Akama Shrine sits up high above a white platform at the top of a long staircase. Worshippers visit the shrine with its intricate interior design to remember the last emperor of the Heike clan who died during a battle along the Kanmon Strait. The grounds are also home to a picturesque outdoor area which is frequently used for weddings and festivals that take place beside the glowing green pond.

Shimonoseki Wharf and Karato Market

As a city celebrated for its fish, it goes without saying that the fish market should be high on any visitor’s itinerary. The Shimonoseki Wharf is a great place to head for a stroll around the port before discovering its lively food scene in the restaurants and souvenir shops. For a real taste of the action, be sure to visit at the weekend when the Karato Market comes alive with food stands boasting incomparably fresh fish from the morning catch as well as an array of local produce. Based over two storeys, the second floor houses more stalls as well a good place to people watch.

Eat fish

Shimonoseki’s cuisine is seafood heavy thanks to the surrounding fruitful waters. Dinner at one of the city’s more modest restaurants can rival some of the fish specialists found inland. Fugu, or puffer fish, is a national delicacy from the region that was once feared due to the fish needing special treatment to remove the poison. Popular izakaya Uomasa Honjin specialises in fresh fish carpaccio which is served as a salad as well as chofugu, a small fried fish that proves a little less daring than the pufferfish.

Hop over to Kyushu

With Shimonoseki so close to Japan’s southern island Kyushu, a day trip to Kitakyushu is just a short trip across the sea with the likes of Mojiko, which is home to some fascinating architecture, a park, and Kyushu Railway History Museum. Heading to the pier, visitors can jump on the Commonline boat to speed across the sea or take the pedestrian tunnel which takes you the one-kilometer stretch under the ocean. For those wanting to keep active, hire out a bike in Shimonoseki before taking the tunnel across to Mojiko which is a good place to discover on two wheels.

Hop over to Kyushu

Shimonoseki

Yamaguchi Pref

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Hotel Wing International Shimonoseki

3-11-2 Takezaki-machi Shimonoseki Yamaguchi

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Hinoyama Park

Yamaguchi Pref. Shimonosekishi Mimosusogawachou Mountain summit of the fire

0832238339

8:00-23:30[Ropeway]10:00-17:…

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Akama Shrine

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330 Reviews

Yamaguchi Pref. Shimonosekishi Amidaijichou 4-1

0832314138

[Grant office] 9:00-17:00

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uzuhouse

7-8, Amidaiji-cho Shimonoseki Yamaguchi

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