SHIMONOSEKI
Excursions that bring the spirit of travel to life
SHIMONOSEKI: GARDENS, UNDERSEA TUNNELS AND VIEWS TO REMEMBER
Step off the ship in Shimonoseki and get ready to do something truly rare: walk beneath the sea between Honshu and Kyushu. First, slow down in a traditional Japanese garden. Then cross the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel — a real underwater passage, not a metaphor — and finish by enjoying sweeping views over the strait from a perfectly placed lookout. This is a tour that doesn’t rush, yet leaves a lasting impression. In every sense, it’s one of a kind.
Main stops
- Visit to Chofu Garden, a traditional Japanese garden
- Walk through the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel (beneath the sea)
- Symbolic crossing on foot from Honshu to Kyushu
- Scenic viewpoint at Mekari Park overlooking the Kanmon Strait
The programme
Leave the port behind and immediately feel the change of pace: Shimonoseki fades away and the atmosphere grows quieter. The first stop is Chofu Garden, a carefully maintained space shaped by a silent precision that needs no explanation. Thoughtfully pruned trees, flowing water, and open spaces invite you to simply slow down and be present.
Then the route changes — and so does the perspective. You head toward the Kanmon Strait, the narrow stretch of water separating Honshu and Kyushu. Here, you don’t look at the sea — you walk beneath it. The Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel is a straightforward feat of engineering, and crossing it on foot is one of those experiences that seems simple… yet always worth telling. You walk under the ocean, cross an invisible line between two of Japan’s main islands, and realize that yes — you’re really doing it.
Emerging from the tunnel on the Kyushu side, the tour continues to Mekari Park. Here the landscape opens up and the strait reveals its true character: constant ship traffic, swift currents, and a rugged coastline. From the viewpoint, you watch the continuous movement of the water and understand why this crossing puts everything into perspective.
It’s one of those moments when words aren’t needed — you just look.
You’ve experienced a unique interlude, possible only here, and when that happens, it’s worth remembering.
- This experience is not recommended for guests with mobility difficulties.
- The walking time through the tunnel is approximately 20 minutes (800 meters).
Naha
Kagoshima
Nakagusuku
Nagasaki
Osaka
Tokyo
Kobe
Fukuoka (Hakata)
Yokohama (Tokyo)
Hososhima
Hakodate
Niigata
Muroran
TOYAMA (JAPAN)
Wakajama
Ishigaki
Yatsushiro-Kumamoto
Miyazaki
Sakaiminato
Shimizu
Kochi
Koniya
Kanazawa
Maizuru
Sendai
Aomori
HUSHIRO (JP)
Kushiro
Nagoya
Otaru
Beppu
Naze
Sasebo
Aburatsu
Akita
Ishinomaki
KITAKYUSHU (MOJ)
Sakata-Yamagata
Miyako Island
Hiroshima
OGASAWARA (JAPAN)
Yokkaichi
WAKKANAI
HAMADA (JAPAN)
NAKAGUSUKU
ABASHIRI
FUSHIKI
Amamioshima
Hashima
Fushiki-Toyama
Tokushima
Kumano
Toba
Onahama
Kitakyushu
Kumamoto
Kagoshima
Yakushima
Tsuruga
Shimonoseki
Matsuyama
Naha (Okinawa)
Hitachinaka
Miyako Iwate
Motobu Okinawa
Kagoshima Bay