Traveling from Japan to Korea by ship

This was enjoyable overnight ferry trip from Japan to Korea. It was in the middle of hot and windless days, so even at sea I could not feel much cooler than on ground.



In the morning arrival in Pusan port, where nice views of port and city.


Image: leaving Shimonoseki port


Image: night scene on the sea


Image: splendid view of Pusan port in the morning

Access: Shimonoseki port is connected to Shimonoseki station by walkway. After arrival into port need to check in and fill some forms. After arrival in Korea next morning, there is 2 hours waiting time for unknown purposes. In Pusan, subway station is within walk from port. Busan station is next stop on subway.

Shimonoseki and Kanmon straits

Shimonoseki is town at the very end of Japanese mainland. Kyushu can be seen just across Kanmon straits. It is busy shipping way and ships can be seen going continuously.

First I visited Kaikyo Yume tower to see from highest point what this town is all about. According to booklet I received at entrance, tower itself is 153 m tall, where viewing platform is 143 m high. Sides of tower is covered with 8 700 sheets of glass. On the top of tower is café with very nice view on Kanmon straits. Probably this café has the best view in Japan. Highly recommended.


Image: English style building and Kaikyo Yume Tower in the background


Video: Look from Kaikyo Yume tower

After seeing Kaikyo Yume tower I followed seafront area and moved towards bridge and came upon Akama Jingu.


Image: history can be felt while walking around Shimonoseki town

There are several ways to cross Kanmon straits. I choose to walk... in undersea tunnel.


Video: look around Kanmon straits


Image: Look inside tunnel. This line indicates border between Kyushu and Honshuu islands


Image: schematic outline of tunnel - yellow color is road tunnel, light brown - pedestrian, blue is water collector. Road tunnel is located above pedestrian.

Next to Kokura and further to Fukuoka.

Akama Jingu in Shimonoseki

Akama Jingu is one of the most interesting shrines in Japan. Here I have to explain that word shrine or jingu in Japanese means worship place for Shinto religion, which is Japan’s traditional religion, and temple – worship place for Buddhist religion, which is more modern and introduced to Japan from abroad.

Akama Jingu is located close to Kanmon straits in Shimonoseki and it is even possible to observe ships going and coming from shrine grounds.


Image: Akamu Jingu, front gate

It was very hot day and I was hanging in the shadows of shrine for a while, enjoying silence of peaceful break between masses brought by tour buses. I started talking with shrine maidens in neat white and red dresses and received small pamphlet in English, which explains history of Akama jingu. Below I will give small summary of it for your information.

Once upon time or more precisely - 800 years ago, during battle of Dannoura between fighting clans of Heike and Genji, eight years old Emperor Antoku together with his men from Heike clan plunged into the sea and drowned in the narrowest place of Kanmon straights. During hollowing years, spirits of Heike clan warriors would haunt people around Shimonoseki – ghosts wondered around ships passing straights at night, swimmers were pulled under water and drowned. To appease those dead souls of warriors and young Emperor, Buddhist temple - Amidaji was built in present location, called – Akamagaseki.

After many years, temple was changed into a shrine. In 1940, shrine was renamed to Akama Jingu and was given first-class status shrine by government. Soon after that, shrine was burnt down during air raids. After the war, shrine was restored and finally completed in 1965.

Now after you have read the story, watch the video.


Video: Look around Akama Jingu

Google map showing location of Akama Jingu 赤間神宮:

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