Mojiko And Shinomoseki Trip Part Six

 I didn't think it would take this many posts to write about this trip!

When we checked out of our hotel, we asked to send our suitcase to the next hotel by Takubin, a door-to-door parcel delivery service. This is so handy when travelling. Our suitcase wasn't that heavy, but we were going to use buses to get to different locations, and lifting the suitcase onto and off a bus isn't that easy. Also, the buses we used were really crowded. I was so happy that we didn't have the suitcase with us. One problem we had was that the suitcase didn't arrive until the next morning, so we didn't have a few things we needed, but not a big problem. I would highly recommend using this kind of service if you are travelling in Japan.

Our first stop was the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel. A walking tunnel that connects Kyushu Island to Honshu Island.

We got the bus to the entrance and found a lovely little shrine there.

Looking across the strait to Shimonoseki.

Also, we were very close to the suspension bridge that connects Kyushu and Honshu.

The engineering that went into making this bridge really amazes me!

Then it was time to walk to Honshu, under the sea, in a tunnel, in a country that has earthquakes!

The entrance to the tunnel is in this building.

Map showing the tunnel

Photo chance.

We had to get an elevator down to the tunnel entrance.

Looking down the tunnel.

Showing how far it is.

These markers were throughout the tunnel.

With every step I took, I was thinking, "What if there's an earthquake?" Christopher calling the night before, saying that there was an earthquake, really didn't help.

A couple of videos so you can get an idea of what it was like!

I was surprised to see a lot of elderly people using the tunnel as a walking course. 

I was happy when we got to the halfway mark!

The kanji near to us says Fukuoka, the other says Yamaguchi.

The sign shows which side is Honshu (pink part) and Kyushu.

I was even happier to get out of the tunnel. I think it was the longest 780 meters of my life!

We came out to a beautiful view of Mojiko from the Shinomoseki side.

You can make out the observation tower.

Where the tunnel is in Shinomoseki.

This is the site of a battle in 1864. The combined forces of America, Britain, France and Holland defeated the Chosun Clan, which governed this area of Japan.

After a little rest, we got on the bus to Akama Shrine.

Where we got off the bus was a lovely seafront park.

The plaque is for the UK-Japan Green Alliance. This alliance promotes environmental cooperation and sustainability between the two nations. One thing the alliance has been involved in is tree planting initiatives. For example, 200 oak saplings were planted in Japan to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.

We crossed the road to the shrine, but we noticed a small building next door.

 

Shinomoseki Nisshin Peace Memorial Hall

A small museum that commemorates the peace negotiations of the First Sino-Japanese War.

Then we walked to the shrine.

I was amazed at how beautiful this shrine is. It faces the sea, but the colours are very bright and clear. I was wondering how often they had to paint it to keep it looking so fresh!

The step leading up to the shrine.

I was trying to get the ship going past. I'm not sure how good the photo is, but I like the contrast of the modern and the historic.

This is the view from the street.

I still have a lot to write, but I think that will do for today.

The weather is really nice outside, so I think I'm going to go and potter around in the garden for a bit!