Shimonoseki is the city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, at the mouth of the Kanmon Straits, opposite Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. The city was founded on April 1, 1889.
The city has a long history dating back to the 3rd century AD, when it was known as Kumamoto, and was the capital of the ancient Higo Province. It was the scene of Japan's first treaty of friendship with a Western country, signed with Portugal in 1557.
During the Edo period, it was the home of the Date clan, one of the most powerful feudal families in Japan. The clan's castle, Momochi, is now a major tourist attraction.
Shimonoseki is also famous for its gourmet cuisine, especially the seafood. It is the birthplace of Shimonoseki ramen, and the city is also known for its fugu (pufferfish) dishes.
![An overview of Hiroshima, Japan, and the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park - commemorating the 1945 atomic bombing of the city - as seen from a hotel rooftop on April 11, 2016, as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited the city to attend the G7 Ministerial Meetings. [State Department photo/ Public Domain] | Hiroshima in Japan](https://humbo.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/place-photo/5ff8b36b9a7cce494339cc9b/ldnAp_Ep6I_thumb.jpeg)
