Shimonoseki Port: Access to the World The largest international ferry base in Japan (9 times a week) Shimonoseki, the largest city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, prospered and became dominant as one of western Japan's famous harbour centres because of its characteristically close location to East Asia. The history of Shimonoseki cannot be told without first referring to its role as the Japanese gateway to both Asia and the world. It has been suggested that between Japan and the Asian continent, most people, goods and culture have previously passed through and been exchanged here in the Kanmon Strait and Shimonoseki Port areas. This still remains true today and will continue to be so. Shimonoseki Port now has a major role to play as a base for high speed transportation connecting East Asia with Japan by reinforcing its functions in both hardware and software to respond to the speed required by the modern distribution system. Geographically dominant location Located at the point of contact of the Pan-Japan Sea Economic Sphere and the Pan-Yellow Sea Economic Sphere The starting point of the Asian continental route Located on the shortest sea route between Northeast Asia and the North American West Coast Real time access to the dynamically moving Japanese Archipelago Shimonoseki City is located at the junction of Honshu and Kyushu islands. Since Honshu's Chugoku and Sanyo Expressways are connected to the Kyushu Expressway by the Kanmon Bridge, the network of truck transportation to both the Kanto and Kansai regions, as well as all over Japan, has been well established. For JR Freight transportation, Shimonoseki Station serves not only as the starting and terminal points for domestic cargo service but also as a base for international multimodal container transportation. Freight in JR containers is routed from the Port of Busan, Quingdao and others to Shimonoseki before being forwarded to various destinations throughout Japan such as the Kanto and Kansai regions. Convenient transportation access 15 minutes by car to expressway from the Main Port Area 5 minutes by car from the Main Port Area to JR Freight Shimonoseki Station Convenient access to many places of tourist interest such as Hagi (90 minutes by car), Yamaguchi City (60 minutes by car) Highly efficient transportation Ocean express routes connecting Shimonoseki with Busan in 8 hours and Qingdao in 27.5 hours (sailing time) Delivery time schedules comparable to air cargo passed through customs,immigration and quarantine are open throughout the year in addition to the nationwide transportation network Expanding sea route network Kampu Ferry (Busan route, everyday service, punctual schedules, comfortable sea trip) Orient Ferry (Qingdao route, twice a week, reliable schedules, 27.5 hours transit by the fastest scheduled vessel) Nam Sung Shipping Company (Busan route, 5 times a week, [once a week via Kwangyang], container sea route linked worldwide by Busan Transhipment/Qingdao (Huangdao) sea route, once a week, container sea route) Sinokor Merchant Marine (Busan & Masan route / 6 times a week/ container sea route) OOCL (Hong Kong & Taiwan route, once a week, container sea route linked worldwide by Kaohsiung or Hong Kong transhipment) ECL (North American West Coast route, twice a month, multipurpose ship, suited to forwarding a variety of cargo) Toko Kaiun Kaisha (North American West Coast route, once every two months, general cargo vessel, suited to forwarding a variety of cargo) Kyowa Shipping Company (Papua New Guinea & Eastern Australia route, once every three weeks, multipurpose ship, suited to forwarding a variety of cargo) Speedy inspection system Customs, animal and plant quarantine procedures are available 7 days a week all year round 6 days a week food inspection Fumigation facilities provided with latest equipment Know-how about sea products and productive techniques built on a long maritime history Import promotion area (appointed by FAZ, tenants include 6 foreign public organizations) Port related facilities Shimonoseki Port International Terminal Hananocho Container Terminal Refrigerator and Freezer Warehouses JR Freight Shimonoseki Station Kaikyo Messe Shimonoseki (FAZ core institution) Abundant tourist destinations Historical institutions (including Shimonoseki City's Chofu district and Akama Shrine, Yamaguchi City, Hagi City, Mojiko Retro Historic District) Cultural institutions (Archaeology Museum, Doigahama Yayoi Park) Natural assets (Hinoyama Observatory for viewing the Kanmon Strait, Tsunoshima Island, Akiyoshidai, Akiyoshido, Omijima Island) Real time access to the dynamically moving Japanese Archipelago Shimonoseki City is located at the junction of Honshu and Kyushu islands. Since Honshu's Chugoku and Sanyo Expressways are connected to the Kyushu Expressway by the Kanmon Bridge, the network of truck transportation to both the Kanto and Kansai regions, as well as all over Japan, has been well established. For JR Freight transportation, Shimonoseki Station serves not only as the starting and terminal points for domestic cargo service but also as a base for international multimodal container transportation. Freight in JR containers is routed from the Port of Busan, Quingdao and others to Shimonoseki before being forwarded to various destinations throughout Japan such as the Kanto and Kansai regions.