12 Popular Things to Do in Shimonoseki: Beautiful Straits and Rich History

In Shimonoseki, you can enjoy seasonal scenery and ingredients at their peak throughout the year, so it is enjoyable no matter when you visit.
That means you can plan your trip based on your interests, such as spring for cherry blossoms or autumn for fall foliage.
Summer tends to be relatively hot and snow falls in winter, so spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for sightseeing.

Although it is located at the westernmost tip of Honshu, Shimonoseki has good access from major cities.
It takes Approx. 30 minutes from Fukuoka by shinkansen, and Approx. 3 hours from Osaka if you use the shinkansen.
Even from Tokyo, the trip takes around 3 hours by plane.
If you are heading to Shimonoseki from Yamaguchi Ube Airport, the main air gateway to Yamaguchi Prefecture, it takes Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes by transferring trains.

Tsunoshima Bridge opened in 2000.
Connecting the mainland side of Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture with the remote island of Tsunoshima, the bridge stretches 1,780 m and is one of the longest free bridges to a remote island in Japan.
Rather than connecting the mainland and Tsunoshima in a straight line, its gently curving form detours around Hatojima in the middle, creating a very beautiful silhouette.

This Western-style lighthouse stands at the northwestern tip of Tsunoshima, an island floating in the Sea of Japan. Designed by British engineer R. H. Brunton, the Approx. 30 m-tall lighthouse is also admired for its beautiful form that makes the most of the texture of granite.
It is known as one of the few lighthouses in Japan that visitors can climb. From the landing reached by climbing 117 steps of spiral stairs and ladders, you can enjoy a grand 360-degree view of the majestic Sea of Japan.

A fish market where not only professionals but also tourists can shop with ease.
In addition to Shimonoseki’s famous fugu, it is also well known as a market for sea bream and yellowtail, with fresh fish just caught by local fishermen on display. The weekend event Ikiiki Bakan Gai is also popular.
There are also eateries where you can enjoy fresh seafood on the spot, making it a great place to visit for breakfast or lunch.

The aquarium offers a wide range of displays unique to Shimonoseki, including the Kanmon Strait tidal current tank that recreates the beautiful currents of the strait, as well as exhibits of pufferfish relatives such as tiger pufferfish and ocean sunfish, boasting the largest variety in the world.
Its distinctive and carefully designed events are also appealing, including dolphin and sea lion collaboration shows and performances featuring bubble rings made by finless porpoises.

Since opening in July 1996, the 153 m-tall Kaikyo Yume Tower rising above the Kanmon Strait has been loved as a landmark of Shimonoseki.
A see-through elevator takes you up in 70 seconds to the 143 m-high observation room, one of the tallest in Japan.
Wrapped in a three-layer spherical glass structure, it offers a sweeping 360-degree panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea, the Kanmon Strait, Ganryujima, Hibikinada (Sea of Japan), and even Kyushu on the opposite shore.

This strait separates Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture at the westernmost tip of Honshu, and is said to have formed Approx. 6,000 years ago.
It is said to have been named Kanmon Strait by combining the first characters of Bakan (Shimonoseki City) and Moji (Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City).
There are three ways to cross the Kanmon Strait by land: the Kanmon Bridge, the Kanmon Tunnel, or the JR line connected by an underground tunnel.
You can also cross the Kanmon Strait on foot via the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel.

A suspension bridge opened in 1973, connecting Moji in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Spanning the Kanmon Strait, this 1,068-meter bridge was the longest in Asia at the time of its completion.
It is also known as a scenic spot, and the green-gray bridge blends beautifully into the surroundings. If you walk along the Mekari Kancho Promenade on the Mojiko side, you can look up at its विशाल bridge piers from close range.

A small uninhabited island with a circumference of Approx. 1.6 km, floating in the Kanmon Strait of the Seto Inland Sea.
It is famous as the island where, in 1612, Miyamoto Musashi, known as an unparalleled master swordsman, dueled Sasaki Kojiro, who devised the famous Tsubame Gaeshi technique. Its official name is Funashima, but out of respect for the defeated warrior, it came to be called Ganryujima after Ganryu, the school of Sasaki Kojiro.

A shrine distinguished by its vermilion Suitenmon Gate, built in the image of the Dragon Palace. It enshrines Emperor Antoku, who drowned at just 8 years old after defeat in the Battle of Dan-no-ura. In addition, Amidaji Temple, the predecessor of Akama Jingu Shrine, was also the setting for the famous ghost story Mimi-nashi Hoichi.
Because it stands facing the sea, the shrine is known for blessings related to water, especially protection from water accidents and prosperity in water-related businesses.

A small island with a population of Approx. 700, floating in Hibikinada off northwestern Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The island is surrounded by highly transparent blue sea, creating the atmosphere of a tropical resort.
Another appeal is that it can be reached by land from Honshu via the 1,780 m-long Tsunoshima Bridge, known as a sacred destination for scenic drives.

This former battlefield was the site of the Battle of Dan-no-ura, the final battle between the Genji and Heike clans, and today the seaside area has been developed as Mimosusogawa Park.
The sea stretching out in front of the park is the narrowest part of the Kanmon Strait, where tidal currents change rapidly, and you can see ships passing through the strait and the 1,068 m-long Kanmon Bridge connecting Honshu and Kyushu up close.

Located at the summit of 268 m-high Mount Hino, this park is one of Yamaguchi Prefecture’s top scenic spots, with sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the Kanmon Strait below.
Flowers bloom throughout the park in every season, with spring offering especially many highlights.
In April, cherry blossoms such as Somei Yoshino and Yamazakura bloom, and in May, Approx. 25,000 azaleas color the park.

A long-established restaurant known as the birthplace of kawara soba, a local dish of Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Kawara soba is soba topped with green tea noodles, beef, shredded egg, and more, served on a heated roof tile.
Inspired by a story that soldiers ate wild plants and meat cooked on roof tiles during breaks in the Seinan War, the dish came to be served at Takase and eventually became established as one of Yamaguchi’s local specialties.

A restaurant near the historic Tsunoshima Lighthouse, which is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, where you can enjoy a meal while looking out over spectacular sea views. It is especially well known for the beautiful sunset seen from its terrace seating.
The menu is wide-ranging, including Yamaguchi specialty kawara soba, seafood steamed with sake in cans known as gangan-yaki, seafood rice bowls, and Western dishes such as crab pasta and abalone risotto.

Tsunoshima, located in the northwestern part of Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is crowded with visitors enjoying fishing, swimming, and camping.
Washokudokoro Yumemisaki is a place where you can enjoy gourmet dishes unique to an island surrounded by the sea on all sides.
A wide variety of rice bowls is available, including fugu, salmon & ikura, fresh sea urchin, and abalone, with yellowtail and hiramasa also appearing seasonally.

Sea Mall Shimonoseki, located in Shimonoseki City, is one of Yamaguchi Prefecture’s largest large-scale shopping complexes, made up of a department store, a specialty store area, and a variety of facilities.
The main feature of the complex is Daimaru Shimonoseki, a department store with 7 above-ground floors and 1 basement floor. In addition, you can enjoy shopping in the specialty store area with around 130 shops and at the supermarket.

Kamon Wharf, in the Karato area of Shimonoseki Port, opened in 2002. This seaside mall is lined with restaurants serving Shimonoseki specialties such as fugu dishes, sushi, and seafood rice bowls made with seafood landed in the Kanmon area, as well as shops selling local specialties and souvenirs.
The fugu statue in front of Kamon Wharf has a hidden heart mark in its body pattern, making it a popular photo spot.