Kanmon Roadway Tunnel, Undersea tunnel in Kanmon Straits, Japan
Kanmon Roadway Tunnel is an undersea passage beneath the Kanmon Straits in Japan, linking Honshu and Kyushu over a span of 3461 meters. The structure carries motor vehicles on the upper level and includes a separate pedestrian corridor running 780 meters beneath the seabed.
Work began in 1937 and was halted during World War II before resuming in 1952. After opening in March 1958, it became the longest undersea roadway in the world at that time.
The name Kanmon combines the first syllables of Shimonoseki and Moji, reflecting the two cities it links. Walkers crossing the passage move visibly from Yamaguchi Prefecture to Fukuoka Prefecture at the midpoint marker.
Elevators at both ends carry visitors down to the pedestrian level, where cyclists and motorcyclists pay a small toll while walkers cross free of charge. Those planning to walk the route should allow time to stop at stamp stations and rest points along the way.
The pedestrian passage runs with air conditioning even during hot summers, making the crossing more comfortable than the open bridge nearby. Commemorative stamp stations along the route let travelers mark their journey between the two islands as a keepsake.
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