Shinagawa, Kinai

Shinagawa (品川市) is the third-largest city in Yamatai by population. It is the capital city and most populous city of the Kinai Province, with a population of 3.4 million. It lies on Heian Bay directly west of the national capital Heian on the island of Akitsukuni. Shinagawa is a major economic, cultural, transportation, and commercial hub of the Kinai Metropolitan Area.

Historically, Shinagawa has always been a major port city, located at a strategic area within Heian Bay and at the mouth of the Shinagawa River. The city was the first in Yamatai to have gas-powered street lamps, which were installed in 1865. After the construction of the national capital on the neighbouring Murota peninsula, Shinagawa grew rapidly as a commercial port, industrial area, and commuter town serving Heian.

Today, Shinagawa is the largest port city in the Kinai Metropolitan Area and has the second-largest port in Yamatai after the port of Wangan. The largest international airport in the Kinnai Metropolitan Area, Shinagawa-Heian International Airport, is located in Shinagawa. Famous landmarks in Shinagawa include Central Shinagawa Station, Shinozaki Shopping Street, Shinagawa Songmachi, and Sandaiba.

Etymology
Shinagawa (品川) means "Goods River". The Shinagawa River that bisects the city runs off the Hida mountains and was historically an important route for moving goods from the coast to inland communities such as Miyako.

Shinozaki Shopping Street
Shinozaki Shopping Street (篠崎町商店街) is a 1.2km long shopping street within the Shinozaki District, between Shinagawa Station and Kasuga Station. Some parts of the shopping street are car-free zones and typically have heavy pedestrian traffic, with large brand-name shops towards the Shinagawa Station end of the shopping street, as well as major departmental stores and restaurants catering to tourists. Towards the Kasuga end of the street, shops tend to be smaller and more local-friendly. At night, various pubs and bars are also open.

Shinagawa Songmachi
Songmachi is an area in the Furu-Minato District which has a large population. About 230 years old, Shingawa Songmachi is one of the largest and oldest Songese exclaves in the world, with a Songese population of about 3,000 to 4,000. Today, there are about 250 Songese-owned businesses in the area, mostly in the area around Sonmachi Station.

Established in the 1790s by Songese traders and merchants that migrated to Yamatai during the age of exploration period, Shinagawa Songmachi used to be located on the waterfront and was home to Songese trade associations. Land reclamation over the centuries has caused the modern-day Songmachi to be located about 8 kilometres inland. The Songese population expanded during the colonial period, when many Songese migrated or were brought to Yamatai as low-wage labourers, with many working on the docks and settling in sharehouses in the area.

In the 20th century, the Songmachi area saw major riots and violence between opposing Songese communities during the Dai Hoa Unification War. Towards the end of the war, large amounts of Songese refugees from the Song Republic fleeing collectivist Dai Hoa's impending victory in the war arrived in Yamatai and settled in various Songmachis across the country. Today, Shinagawa Songmachi is believed to have a majority of pro-Song Republic views, and the Song Republic's flag is often flown by patriotic businesses, much to the chagrin of Hoaian tourists.

Sandaiba
Sandaiba (三台場) are a set of three artificial islands in Heian Bay. The Sandaiba islands were initially built for defensive purposes in the early 20th century to defend the Port of Shinagawa from Chiseian submarines and to mount coastal and anti-air artillery pieces. After the wars, the area expanded during the 1980s as a major commercial, residential, and leisure area. Sandaiba is one of the few manmade seashores in the Greater Heian Metropolitan Area where the waterfront is accessible, and not blocked by industrial or harbour areas. Dai-Umi Park on Sandaiba-Ichi has artificial sand beaches suitable for swimming, while Rinkai Park on Sandaiba-San is well known for casual fishing and overlooks the Momoiro Ocean Adventure World theme park in neighbouring Heian. Sandaiba-Ichi is also known for having an artificial hot spring, the Sandaiba Onsen Monogatari. Sandaiba-Ni mostly comprises of upscale residential apartments as well as a few luxury car dealerships.

The three islands of Sandaiba are connected by road bridges with each other and the mainland, and are served by the Sandaiba Uminagame Monorail, which connects with other rail services at Sasaki Station on the mainland.

Economy and infrastructure
Shinagawa has a strong economic base, especially in the shipping, car manufacturing, biotechnology, and semiconductor industries. Yassan Motors moved its headquarters from Murota, Heian, to the Yassan Motors Industrial Park in 2010. The Yassan Motors Industrial Park is the third-largest of the Yassan Motors factories in Yamatai, and also includes the Yassan Dream of Tomorrow Experimental Test Facility as well as the Yassan Museum.

As of 2016, the total production in Shinagawa city reached 円13.56 billion.

Transportation
By rail, Shinagawa is serviced by the general-purpose heavy rail Akitsukuni Southern Line. The high-speed Shinkyuko Eastern Line also stops at Central Shinagawa Station as well as Nishi-Shinagawa Station. Central Shinagawa Station is the busiest station with two million passengers daily. Metro services are provided by the Heian Nishi Line, Kinai Western Coastal Line, Shinagawa Subway, Shinagawa Port Loop Line, and the Sandaiba Uminagame Monorail.

Shinagawa has the second-largest port in Yamatai after the Port of Wangan. It is the busiest port in the Greater Heian Metropolitan Area.

Shinagawa is also home to the Shinagawa-Heian International Airport, which is located in the northern outskirts of the city and is the largest airport in the Greater Heian Metropolitan Area.