Shimonoseki City is located at the western most tip of Honshu, Japan's main island. It is 1100 kilometers west of Tokyo and about 80 kilometers east of Fukuoka. The Kodama, a type of bullet train, stops at Shinshimonoseki Station before it goes on to Kyushu through a tunnel under the Kanmon Strait. It takes about 30 minutes by bullet train from Shimonoseki to Fukuoka, which has the most convenient airport. The population is roughly two hundred sixty thousand, the largest in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The city center faces the Kanmon Strait, which separates Honshu and Kyushu islands. It boasts a scenic view across the water to the coast of northern Kyushu. The other two sides of the city are surrounded by sea. Shimonoseki is virtually the gateway to East Asia, and there is a daily ferry service to Pusan and a weekly ferry service to Qingdao. The coastline on the outer reaches of the city has many beaches and fishing communities. Landscapes, typical of Japan including mountains, valleys, ponds, rice fields, and hot springs, are easily accessible by public transport. The university is conveniently located in one of the main commercial districts. From the center of the city it takes about 20 minutes by bus or train to reach the university. The bullet train station, Shin-Shimonoseki, is within 10 minutes of the university campus by taxi. Around the university there are many shops, including big supermarkets, a general post office, banks, restaurants, etc.