Hōfu (防府市, Hōfu-shi) is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

Hōfu is located almost in the center of Yamaguchi Prefecture, facing the Seto Inland Sea to the south.

The Saba River, a first-class water system, flows from the northwest of the city toward the Seto Inland Sea.

In the Seto Inland Sea, five islands, Sabajima, Mukaishima, Nojima, Hirashima, and Okishima, belong to the city.

[6] Hōfu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 25 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Yamaguchi 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

In addition to the large Mazda automobile factory[7] companies such as Bridgestone, Kyowa Hakko Bio, and Tokai Carbon are in the city.