Hōfu, Japan
防府市
Hōfu is a town of 116,925 people in Yamaguchi, Japan, founded in August 25, 1936.
Why visit Hōfu
Townapedia lists 48 museums and landmarks, 27 parks and trails, 50 places to eat, 15 places to stay and 39 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Yamaguchi University, AEON Cinema, Mōri Museum and Remains of Suō Kokuga.
Weather in Hōfu
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Hōfu
Hōfu (防府市, Hōfu-shi) is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 May 2023, the city had an estimated population of 114,846 and a population density of 610 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 92.13 square kilometres (35.57 sq mi).
From the Wikipedia article Hōfu (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Hōfu on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do39
Yamaguchi University
School · 14.1 km
Higher education institution in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
27 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks48
Remains of Suō Kokuga
Monument and historic site · 2.0 km
Settlement in Yamaguchi, Japan
36 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds27
15 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes50
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38 more on the map.
History
The area of Hōfu was part of an ancient Suō Province, and the name "Hōfu" (防府) means "the capital (国府) of Suō Province (周防国)". The area has been settled since the Jōmon period. During the Nara period, the Suō Kokubun-ji was located in Hōfu. In the Edo Period, it was part of the holdings of Chōshū Domain. Following the Meiji Restoration, the area was divided into villages within Saba District, Yamaguchi, including the villages of Saba and Mitajiri with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The two villages merged to form the town of Hōfu on January 1, 1902. Hōfu was elevated to city status on August 25, 1936. The city's change over the past fifty years is shown in the animated film Mai Mai Miracle, with its story taking place in the year of 1955 (with flashbacks going 1,000 years further back).
From the History section of Hōfu on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay15
Churches and places of worship49
Shopping32
Gas and EV charging28
Schools, colleges and libraries42
Healthcare16
Map of Hōfu
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Yamaguchi-Ube Airport (UBJ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 30 km away.
- Ogōri-shimogō 16 km west, about 16 min by car
- Yamaguchi 17 km northwest, about 17 min by car
- Tokuyama 23 km east, about 23 min by car
- Shūnan 24 km east, about 24 min by car
- Ube 31 km west, about 31 min by car
- Shimonoseki 59 km west, about 59 min by car
- Iwakuni 61 km east, about 1 h by car
- Kitakyushu 70 km west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Hatsukaichi 78 km northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Beppu 86 km south, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Matsuzaki Elementary school (Hōfu, Yamaguchi), 妖精書士, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Saba Shrine (Hōfu, Yamaguchi), 妖精書士, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Yamaguchi u yoshida 2013, Arecsey,Slarovski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Suo Kokufu, touhoku, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Hofu Mouri Residence and Museum, TT mk2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Suo Kokubunji, kondou, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Mitajiri Salt ponds Memorial park 1 Entrance, TT mk2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 道の駅 あいお, On-neko, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Saba-jinja (Hofu), haiden, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Tsurugi-jinja (Hofu), haiden, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Hofu, おんさか at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hofu-tenmangu, roumon-1, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Tamanooya-jinja (Hofu), haiden, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Yamaguchi Junior College, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- AEON TOWN Hofu, 新幹線 （ 会話 ）, CC BY 3.0
- AEONHOFU-01, Tc117-1, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mt. Migitagadake from Tsurugi-jinja, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Iwabatake Kofun, entrance-2, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- 防府天満宮 Hofutenmangu shrine - panoramio, OS6, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 防府散歩 - panoramio, shikabane taro, CC BY 3.0
- Tamanooya-jinja haiden, ChiefHira, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 防府駅 Hofu station - panoramio, OS6, CC BY-SA 3.0
- オオスカシバのホバリングとアベリアの花（防府市、山口県、日本）, Achanygg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 防府サティ (Shopping center) - panoramio, OS6, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hofu-Kuwayama-Junior-HighSchool-2015101002, Hasec, CC0
- Hofu-Kuwayama-Junior-HighSchool-2015101003, Hasec, CC0
- Hofu-Kuwayama-Junior-HighSchool-2015101001, Hasec, CC0
- 防府市消防本部 (Fire station) - panoramio, OS6, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ゆめタウン防府からの眺望01 Hofu city - panoramio, OS6, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ゆめタウン防府からの眺望02 Hofu city - panoramio, OS6, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mitajiri ofunagura, おんさき, CC BY 3.0
- 天神山／防府散歩 - panoramio, shikabane taro, CC BY 3.0
- 防府天満宮 - panoramio, shikabane taro, CC BY 3.0
- いらっしゃいませ パナソニック乾電池自動販売機 (9492237886), wonderstory, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 防府天満宮からの眺望 Hofu city - panoramio, OS6, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 山口県防府市,防府天満宮 - panoramio, kazu2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 防府天満宮 - panoramio (1), 上空弘育（ひろじー）, CC BY 3.0
- 山口県防府市,防府天満宮、梅園 - panoramio, kazu2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 山口県防府市,防府天満宮,ヤバイ（野梅） - panoramio, kazu2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 周防国分寺 (Temple) - panoramio, OS6, CC BY-SA 3.0
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