Kanmon Straits

Kanmon Straits
Straits of Shimonoseki Straits of Van der Capellen
Kanmon Straits viewed from space and rotated 90°, with Honshu at the top and Kyushu at the bottom
Kanmon Straits
Coordinates	33°56′49″N130°56′48″E
Type	Strait
Islands	Honshu Kyushu

TheKanmon Straits(Quan môn hải hiệp,Kanmon-kaikyō)or theStraits of Shimonosekiis the stretch of water separatingHonshuandKyushu,two of Japan's four main islands. On the Honshu side of the strait isShimonoseki(Hạ quan,which contributed "Kan" (Quan) to the name of the strait) and on the Kyushu side isKitakyushu,whose former city and present ward,Moji(Môn tư), gave the strait its "mon" (Môn). The straits silt up at the rate of about 15 centimetres per annum, and dredging has made it possible to build theKitakyushu Airportat low cost.

Western maps from the 19th century also refer to this waterway as theStraits of Van der Capellen.

Population of Kanmon area

Kanmon Straits andShimonosekipanorama from Hinoyama

The total population of the Kanmon area is about 1.3 million, counting the whole ofKitakyushu(approx. one million) andShimonoseki(approx. 300,000), although detailed definitions vary widely (seeFukuoka–Kitakyushu).

Tourism

• Fireworks festival

The Kanmon Straits Summer Fireworks Festival is held in August every year.

• Boat rides

The Voyager pleasure boat departs from Moji-kō and cruises the straits.

• Helicopter and airship flights

Helicopter joyrides are available from Kaikyo Dramaship in Moji-kō. In October 2005, one of the world's largestairshipscurrently flying (aZeppelin NTimported from Germany) also passed through Moji on an all-Japan tour. This airship was purchased by Nippon Airship Corporation in June 2004 and was used in the Tokyo area and at theAichiExpo 2005.

Transportation across the Straits

Kanmonkyo Bridgefrom theMojiside

The Kanmon Straits can be crossed in a number of ways, the oldest of which are the ferries. There is a car ferry between Nishiminato (Kokura) and Hikinoshima (Shimonoseki) which takes about ten minutes, and a passenger ferry from Moji-ko to Shimonoseki (Karato wharf). There is also a bridge which carries an expressway. By far the most used method is a number ofKanmon Tunnelswhich carry theSanyō Shinkansen,trains, cars, and even one for pedestrians at the narrowest point.

The first railway tunnel was opened on November 15, 1942. The highway tunnel was opened on March 9, 1958. TheKanmonkyo Bridge(see photo) was opened to vehicles on November 14, 1973. The Shinkansen tunnel was opened on March 10, 1975.

Commercial importance

The Kanmon straits is also the connection between theSea of Japanand theInland Sea.It is used by many cargo ships as a shortcut toOsakaand Tokyo from Korea and China. TheNew Kitakyushu Airportis also nearby.

Historical significance

• Battle of Dan-no-ura
• Battle of Shimonoseki Straits
• Bombardment of Shimonoseki
• Treaty of Shimonoseki

Transportation

TheNew Kitakyushu Airportopened in Kitakyushu on March 16, 2006, and is expected to bring further prosperity in the form of increased tourism and trade to the area.

Ferries fromShimonosekiPort International Terminal:

• The Kanpu ferry toBusanin South Korea
• The Orient ferry toQingdaoin China
• The Orient ferry to Shanghai in China

See also

• Geological formation of the Japanese Islands
• Mekari Shrine

External links

• Kanmon straits guide(in Japanese)