Honshu’s westernmost city, Shimonoseki guards the entrance to the Kanmon Straits and is connected to Kyushu by an undersea pedestrian tunnel. It’s famed for its puffer fish, which are displayed in a state-of-the-art aquarium, as well as being home to a shrine with strong links to Japanese mythology.

Things to do

The skyline of Shimonoseki is dominated by the Kaikyō Yume Tower, the tallest tower in western Japan. Ride the elevator to its observation deck for sweeping panoramas across Shimonoseki and the Kanmon Straits.

Ever wanted to walk across the bottom of the sea? Follow the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel that connects Honshu and Kyushu across the Kanmon Straits. The 780-metre-long walk is accompanied by wall paintings of puffer fish and a line denotes when you cross between the Fukuoka and Yamaguchi prefectures.

One of the best places to see puffer fish up close is at the Kaikyokan Aquarium. In addition to more than 100 different species of puffer fish from around the globe, the aquarium features a tank filled with local marine life replicating the tides and powerful whirlpools of the Kanmon Straits.

Also overlooking the Kanmon Straits is the Akama Shrine, which is dedicated to the Japanese emperor Antoku who died as a child during the Battle of Dannoura. Its design was inspired by the mythical underwater palace of Ryūgū-jō and its Hoichi Hall houses a statue of Hoichi the Earless, who is featured in a popular Japanese ghost story.

Getting around

Shimonoseki is a six-hour train ride from Tokyo and around four hours from Osaka International Airport. Buses travel throughout Shimonoseki, but most of its attractions are within walking distance of one another.