There are a lot of tunnels in Japan. Not surprising really considering how mountainous it is. The Japanese have become the worlds experts on tunnel construction and have built the longest transport tunnel in the world, the 54k train tunnel connecting Honshu with Hokkaido.
In the 1930's there was a plan to connect Tokyo with the rest of the empire with a high-speed train line that would pass under the sea from Japan to Korea. Incidentally, this is the origin of the Bullet Train.
The little train tunnel above is on our local train line and was dug by hand.
This pedestrian tunnel with hi-tech light show connects Tenmangu Shrine with the National Museum in Dazaifu, Fukuoka.
This somewhat older hand-dug tunnel connects the village of Kimach in Izumo with the sandstone quarry on the other side of the hill.
This long straight pedestrian tunnel goes under the sea and connects Kyushu with Honshu.
What japan also has is thousands and thousands of kilometres of road tunnels. Many of these continue to be built on little used roads and simply "straighten" existing roads that follow rivers.
Which brings me to the subject of tomorrows post.....
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beautiful and wild!! Great images and wonderfully captured;)
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see so many different tunnels. I'd love to cycle the one from Kyushu to Honshu.
ReplyDeleteTK
Beautiful images.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the tunnel in the first picture I can see the planet Earth.
Am I the only one?
Yes, I do see it too! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great images if the unusual tunnels. It's a fine subject idea. You definitely have a gift!!
ReplyDeleteJust travelled by road from Tokyo to Takayama and I was amazed how many tunnels there were and how long they were. Truly the Japanese are masters at tunnel building.
ReplyDeleteGreat images wonderfully captured and text
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