Kanmon Bridge

The Kanmom Straits, one of the entrances into the Seto Inland Sea, separate Honshu and Kyushu, and at its narrowest is only about 800 meters wide.

The Kanmon Bridge was one of the biggest suspension bridges in the world when it opened in 1973 to carry road traffic across the straits from Shimonoseki to Kitakyushu.

The central span is just over 1,000 meters. Prior to its construction there was a road tunnel beneath the water, as well as a tunnel for trains and even a pedestrian tunnel.

Ferries still connect the two sides as they have for centuries.

Shimonoseki Kaikyokan

Shimonoseki Kaikyokan is the big, new aquarium located right on the seafront in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

It was designed by the Nikken Sekkei Company who also designed our local aquarium, Aquas.

Whereas the design of Aquas was based on the shark form, Kaikyokan is supposedly based on the whale form.

The entrance foyer has a huge whale skeleton on display. (Nearby at the fish market you can by whale steaks)

Many of Japan's whaling fleet are based in Shimonoseki. Ooops... I mean of course Japan's "research" fleet.

By all accounts the aquarium has good displays, but at 1,800yen for entrance, the short time I had as I passed through Shimonoseki meant I didn't go in.

They do have a big display of Fugu.

Kamikaze Kuisine

The manhole cover of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi shows a Fugu, a Pufferfish. Famous as an expensive and very poisonous delicacy in Japan, it is illegal to eat in Europe and other countries.
Every year in Japan people die from eating improperly prepared fugu.

The Karato Fish Market in Shimonoseki is where most Fugu in Japan is sold. A lot of fugu now is farmed, and they have even developed a completely non-toxic strain.

The fish market also sells a little whale meat, though it might be dolphin as research has shown that up to a third of all whale meat sold in Japan is mislabelled dolphin meat.

Its not a great shot, but this shows some fugu in their natural habitat. When we visited the Kaga no Kukedo the boatman threw some food into the water by the boat for them.

I tried fugu a couple of times and found it nothing to write home about. Not especially tasty, and certainly not worth the high price it is sold for.

Kaikyo Messe

The full and proper name of the kaikyo Messe is the Yamaguchi International Trade and Cultural center.

It's located in Shimonoseki as part of the complex that includes the Kaikyo Yume Tower.

Like the tower, it was designed by NTT Power & Buildings.

Didn't actually go inside, but on the top floor is a gift shop specializing in Fugu

The views from Kaikyo Yume Tower

The 360 degree views from the tower are well worth the 600 yen entrance fee.
To the NE the Kanmon bridge connecting Honshu with Kyushu

To the NW, Ganryujima Island

To the south, Kitakyushu.

Below, a fairly typical Japanese urban scene.

See photos of the tower

Kaikyo Yume Tower

Kaikyo Yume Tower, 153 metres in height, is located in the port of Shimonoseki as part of a complex including convention and exhibition areas.

Finished 1n 1996 and designed by NTT Power & Buildings, fast elevators whisk you up to the observation platform inside the towers sphere at 143 metres.

The tower is covered with more than 8,000 panes of glass, and at night is illuminated by more than 600 lights.

Kaikyo Yume Tower is open 364 days a year, closing only on the 4th Saturday in January. It opens at 9:30am and closes at 9:30pm

Entrance is 600yen for adults and 300 for kids. The tower is a short walk from Shimonoseki Station.

See the views from the tower