Kanmon Tunnel for Humans (Shimonoseki Side)
Yamaguchi Prefecture · Japan
The recommended photo taking spot in the tunnel is at the borders of Fukuoka prefecture and Yamaguchi prefecture; it’s not often will you be able to stand right at the border of two huge islands! It will take you about 15 minutes to walk through the 780 meter (853 yard) long tunnel, and once you are out, you will be greeted by a fantastic view of the Kanmon Kaikyo as well as the Kanmonkyo Bridge that connects Yamaguchi and Fukuoka prefecture.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the Kanmon Tunnel for Humans, an extraordinary piece of civil engineering that allows you to walk from Japan's main island of Honshu to the southern island of Kyushu—entirely underwater. We are standing on the…
Listen in the app2The Shimonoseki Portal: The Descent
We begin at the northern entrance of the tunnel, located in the Akama district of Shimonoseki. The entrance building is modest, housing the massive elevators that ferry pedestrians and cyclists deep underground. …
Listen in the app3Engineering the Abyss: The 1958 Achievement
As we walk through the first section of the tunnel, let us reflect on the immense engineering challenge this project posed. Construction began in 1937, a time when undersea tunneling was still a burgeoning field. …
Listen in the app4The Prefectural Line: Standing in Two Places
We have reached the most famous point in the tunnel: the border line. Painted clearly across the floor is a line marking the boundary between Yamaguchi Prefecture on the Honshu side and Fukuoka Prefecture on the Kyushu side. …
Listen in the app5Ghosts of the Strait: The Battle of Dan-no-ura
As we continue our walk toward the Moji exit, we are passing directly beneath the site of one of the most tragic and significant battles in Japanese history: the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. This was the final clash of the…
Listen in the app6The Moji Portal: Emerging in Kyushu
We are now approaching the southern end of the tunnel. The path begins to slope upward slightly, signaling our arrival at the Moji side. …
Listen in the app7Moji-ko Retro: The Legacy of International Trade
Now that we have emerged into Moji, take a moment to explore the immediate surroundings of the tunnel exit. This area, known as Moji-ko Retro, is a living museum of Japan's rapid modernization. …
Listen in the app8Closing
Our journey through the Kanmon Tunnel for Humans has taken us across a prefectural border, through an engineering marvel of the Showa era, and beneath the site of a legendary samurai battle. Walking 780 meters underwater is a…
Listen in the app
What is Kanmon Tunnel for Humans (Shimonoseki Side)?
Kanmon Tunnel for Humans (Shimonoseki Side) is a place in Yamaguchi Prefecture · Japan with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Yamaguchi Prefecture · Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 33.9649, 130.9567 |
| Last updated |
