Visited 27.04.2015 (Mon)
Waved to Kyushu! Made our way from Nagato Yumoto Onsen to Shimonseki city on our last day in Japan. Shimonoseki city is the westernmost city on Honshu island and separated from Kyushu island by Kanmon Straits 関門海峡. The two islands are connected by Kanmonkyo (Kanmon Bridge) to facilitate road transportation. In addition, there is a 780 m long tunnel, named Kanmon Tunnel 関門トンネル, that transverses under the sea and is dedicated for pedestrians only; making it a popular choice and unique option for visitors to commute between the two islands. As we spent less than half a day in Shimonoseki city, we did not allocate time to walk through Kanmon Tunnel this time round (yet another item added to my follow up list). Here, we visited a few other places including Karato Ichiba 唐戸市場, Karato Wharf 唐戸ワーフ and Akama Jinja 赤間神社, which are all located within close proximity to one another. Just right in front of Akama Jinja, an unobstructed view of Kanmonkyo and Kitakyushu can also be captured; a testament on how close these two prefectures (Fukuoka and Yamaguchi) are to one another.
Kanmon Tunnel 関門トンネル: http://www.oidemase.or.jp/tourism-information/spots/10471
Origin. Kanmon Jinja is dedicated to the young Emperor Antoku, who was the 81st Emperor of Japan. His grandmother, who was a nun, carried him (who was just 6 years old) and committed suicide by drowning during the period dan-no-ura 壇ノ浦の合戦 battle (final battle of Genpei War) in 1185. Upon arriving at Kanmon Jinja and passing through the first torii, Suitenmon 水天門 is the next eye catching landmark that comes into sight. My immediate response was I have seen something similar during previous trips to Japan. This elegant white and vermilion colured structure, bears close resemblance to Ryugu Shrine 龍宮神社 located in Ibusuki (Kagoshima Prefecture), which I have once visited before. Suitenmon was constructed to look like the legendary palace of the dragon god under the sea, which explained the similarities between both shrines. On 2nd May every year and over a period of three days, a ritual called Senteisai 先帝祭 is held in remembrance of the late Emperor Antoku at Akama Jinja. We happened to be here a few days before the ceremonial dates and managed to catch a glimpse of the vermilion coloured bridge which was temporarily erected to connect Suitenmon to the main shrine building. One of the highlights of the ceremony is its spectacular procession in which performers are donned in brilliantly coloured traditional costumes and the temporarily built bridge forms part of the route on which the procession walks on. For visitors who want to know more about dan-no-ura battle and the dominant clans during that era, there is a treasure hall 宝物殿 where exhibits containing related information are on display for reference.
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Akama Jinja (Akama Shrine) 赤間神社
〒750-0003 山口県下関市阿弥陀寺町4-1
Operating hours: 0600 - 1800 hrs
Free admission
Admission fee for treasure hall = 100 yen
http://www.tiki.ne.jp/~akama-jingu/
How to get there?
(1) By bus.
Board Sanden Kotsu bus サンデン交通バス from Shimonoseki Ekimae Bus Terminal 下関駅前バスタミナール Bus Stop 1 and 2 and alight at Akama Jinja mae 赤間神宮前. Bus ride takes approximately 9 minutes.
Bus fare = 230 yen
Waved to Kyushu! Made our way from Nagato Yumoto Onsen to Shimonseki city on our last day in Japan. Shimonoseki city is the westernmost city on Honshu island and separated from Kyushu island by Kanmon Straits 関門海峡. The two islands are connected by Kanmonkyo (Kanmon Bridge) to facilitate road transportation. In addition, there is a 780 m long tunnel, named Kanmon Tunnel 関門トンネル, that transverses under the sea and is dedicated for pedestrians only; making it a popular choice and unique option for visitors to commute between the two islands. As we spent less than half a day in Shimonoseki city, we did not allocate time to walk through Kanmon Tunnel this time round (yet another item added to my follow up list). Here, we visited a few other places including Karato Ichiba 唐戸市場, Karato Wharf 唐戸ワーフ and Akama Jinja 赤間神社, which are all located within close proximity to one another. Just right in front of Akama Jinja, an unobstructed view of Kanmonkyo and Kitakyushu can also be captured; a testament on how close these two prefectures (Fukuoka and Yamaguchi) are to one another.
Kanmon Tunnel 関門トンネル: http://www.oidemase.or.jp/tourism-information/spots/10471
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| Admiring Kanmonkyo while standing in front of Akama Jinja. |
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| Suitenmon. |
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| The temporary bridge leading from Suitenmon to main shrine, in preparation for Senteisai. |
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| The temporary bridge leading from Suitenmon to main shrine, in preparation for Senteisai. |
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Akama Jinja (Akama Shrine) 赤間神社
〒750-0003 山口県下関市阿弥陀寺町4-1
Operating hours: 0600 - 1800 hrs
Free admission
Admission fee for treasure hall = 100 yen
http://www.tiki.ne.jp/~akama-jingu/
How to get there?
(1) By bus.
Board Sanden Kotsu bus サンデン交通バス from Shimonoseki Ekimae Bus Terminal 下関駅前バスタミナール Bus Stop 1 and 2 and alight at Akama Jinja mae 赤間神宮前. Bus ride takes approximately 9 minutes.
Bus fare = 230 yen
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