Shimonoseki & Kita Kyushu

MOJI

JR Moji Station

I got out of the taxi in front of JR Moji Station at 6 am.

JR Moji Station

We can go from here to Shimonoseki passing the Kanmon undersea tunnel today. But I dared to go to Mojiko (port of Moji) to sail accross the Kanmon Strait.

The Kanmon Train Ferry service was ended in 1964 because of the tunnel. But several ferry services remain.

Port of Moji

Voyager

This is the Voyager (1990, 132 G/T). She is the first high-stable-cabin-vessel in the world. Even if the vessel sways at sea, her cabins don't sway with the special facilities. She was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shimonoseki Shipyard. Space Cruise Co., Ltd operates her.

Diana

Marine Gate Moji

"Marine Gate Moji," a ferry terminal. Kanmon Kisen (Moji - Shimonoseki), Kanmon Kankosen (=excursion boats), Ishizaki Kisen (Moji - Matsuyama) use this terminal.

Inside the terminal, I saw posters of the lecture meeting on cruising. This cruise ship is the Pacific Venus (1998, 26,518 G/T) of Japan Cruise Line (Venus Cruise). The parent company of Japan Cruise Line is a Shimonoseki-based shipping company, "Kanko Kisen."

Fairy II

The Fairy II (19 G/T) was moored at the pier. She seems to be used as an excursion boat.

Fariy

The Fairy (19 G/T) plies between Mojiko and Shimonoseki (4km, 5 minutes).

Kanmon Strait

The traffic of the Kanmon Strait was so heavy. The crossing the strait was full of thrilling events.

SHIMONOSEKI

Karato Pier

I arrived at Shimonoseki safely. It seemed to me that "Shimonoseki Grand Hotel" in front of the Karato Pier is the No.1 hotel in this town. I saw shops and restaurants named "Kamon Wharf" (Fisherman's Wharf) to the north of the hotel. And "Karato Fish Market"was next to Kamon Wharf.

Karato Fish Market

You can buy fish at a good price very early in the morning.. Shimonoseki is well known for catching the largest amount of "fugu" (=globefish) in Japan.

Yoshi

There are some restaurants and cafes for tourists and workers on the upstairs. You can eat fresh fishes here.

Fugu (Globefish) dishes

This is "Fugu Sashi Teishoku" (1,100 yen, $8.8). The Japanese eat a lot of fish. One favorite is sashimi. Sashimi is thinly sliced, fresh raw fish served with soy sauce and wasabi, but fish is also eaten cooked or broiled.

Hamayuu & Fariy

Kampu Ferry's Hamayuu (1998, 16,187G/T) almost arrived here. She plies between Shimonoseki and Pusan, South Korea. She was also built by MHI Shimonoseki Shipyard.

Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty Memorial Hall

Let's take a walk. "Shunpanro" is well known Japanese-style inn for Fugu (Globefish) dishes. In 1895, the Sino-Japanese Peace Conference was held here.

The victory of the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) led to modernization of Japan and at the same time, it led to colonize Korea and China by Japan.

Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty Memorial Hall

This hall now displays authentic furniture and other rare historical relics.

Akama Shrine

Akama Shrine is sacred to the Emperor Antoku and Heike warriors who drowned un their defeat at the Battle of Dan-no-Ura (1185), in the power struggle between the Gebji and Heike. This Shirne was conspicuous in this town.

Kameyama Shrine

There is a bronze statue of blowfish at Kameyama Hachiman Shrine.

Former British Consulate in Shimonoseki

Former British Consulate in Shimonoseki. This building is a compromise between Japanese and European styles. (Completed in 1906).

Former Akita Co., Ltd

Akita Co., Ltd was a large shipping company in Shimonoseki. This is the one of the oldest ferroconcrete building in Japan, and features a rooftop Japanese-style garden.

Shimonoseki Port International Terminal

This is a view of Shimonoseki from Kaikyo Yume Tower (height: 153m). You see Kampu Ferry's Hamayuu, Shimonoseki Port International Terminal and the building of Kanko Kisen (a light brown building).

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shimonoseki Shipyard

And Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shimonoseki Shipyard. MHI Shimonoseki Shipyard shares about 70% of Japanese ferry market. You see the Ferry Fukuoka 2 (2002) for Meimon Taiyo Ferry. She was almost completed.

Mutsure Jima (=island), Japan Sea

Kanmon Bridge

Honshu (left) and Kyushu (right) are connected by ferry services, a bridge and several undersea tunnels. You see the Seto Naikai (Inland Sea) beyond the bridge.

KANKO KISEN / SHIMONOSEKI INTERNATIONAL FERRY TERMINAL

Kanko Kisen

I went to the head office of Kanko Kisen. If you talk about Japanese ferries, you cannot help but refer Kanko Kisen.

Kanko Kisen is the nucleus of the SHK Line Group, which is itself a joint venture between Hankyu Ferry, Shin Nihonkai Ferry, Kampu Ferry, Orient Ferry, Nishi Nihon Kisen, Japan Cruise Line (Venus Cruise), etc.

The history of regular Japanese long distance car ferry services started with Hankyu Ferry's "Ferry Hankyu" (4,978 G/T) in 1968. The mixture of a growing economy and congested roads resulted in the concept of ferry-based traffic promoted by Mr. Hoshu Iriya, the president of Kanko Kisen, often referred to as the father of Japanese long distance car ferries.

Shimonoseki Port International Terminal

Shimonoseki Port International Terminal is near the head office of Kanko Kisen.

Seong Hee

At the entrance hall, I saw a landscape on the wall. I think this picture is a memorial of Pukwan Ferry's Seong Hee (2002, 17,000 G/T), a South Korean ferry.

Translation: The new built luxury passenger ship "Seong Hee" launched.

Shimonoseki Port International Terminal

The Kanpu route (Shimonoseki - Pusan, S. Korea) was opened by Sanyo Tetsudo Kaisha (=railway company) in 1905. It was closed in August 1945 because of World War II, but reopened in June 1970.

Shimonoseki Port International Terminal

Now Shimonoseki and Pusan are linked by Kampu Ferry (JPN) and Pukwan Ferry (KOR). Also here and Quingdao, China are linked by Orient Ferry (JPN). The Utopia (1987, 27,000 G/T) which is operated by Orient Ferry is ex-New Hamanasu of Shin Nihonkai Ferry.

MITSUBISHI HEAVERY INDUSTRIES SHIMONOSEKI SHIPYARD

Mitsubishi Heavery Industries Shimonoseki Shipyard

And then I went to MHI Shimonoseki Shipyard. There is a museum on the history of this shipyard here.

At the museum, some ship models, tools, photos or books on shipping were displayed like this. The Shimonoseki Shipyard was founded as Mitsubishi Goshigaisha Hikojima Shipyard in 1914. They build ferries mainly. Ferries of Higashi Nihon Ferry, Kyuetsu Ferry, etc. and the European Highlander (2002, 20,650 G/T) for P&O Ferries were built here. This museum was opened in 1995.

You see a photo of the Hestia (left). The Hestia was also built here. When I visited here, 2 car ferries for Hankyu Ferry are under construction. The Yamato and the Tsukushi will be entered services in 2003.

Hankyu Ferry and Meimon Taiyo Ferry are rival on Seto Inland Sea route (Osaka/Kobe - Kita Kyushu). Meimon Taiyo Ferry's Ferry Kyoto 2 (2002, 9,800 G/T) and Ferry Fukuoka 2 (2002, 9,800 G/T) were also built here.

Venus

Higshi Nihon Ferry's Venus (1994, 7,198 G/T) is the 1,000th ship which was built here. She plies between Hakodate and Aomori. I have got on board her before.

I took a train at JR Shimonoseki Station and went to Kyusu passing the Kanmon undersea tunnel.

TOBATA-WAKAMATSU ROUTE

I got off at Tobata. Because the Tobata - Wakamatsu ferry service is known as the first car ferry service in Japan.

Wakato Bridge

Tobata area, Kita Kyshu City and Wakamatsu area are connected by the Wakato Bridge. But a ferry service remains.

Tobata Ferry Terminal

The first Japanese car ferries were the No. 8 Wakato Maru (43 G/T) and the No.9 Wakato Maru (43 G/T) which entered service in 1934. They were "Ryoto" or double ended car ferries and could carry 2 trucks and 4 motor tricycles.

Kuki Maru

Kita Kyushu City government operates the ferry service. This is the Kuki Maru. She is not a car ferry any longer because cars and trucks can cross over the bridge very easily now.

No.17 Wakato Maru

The No.17 Wakato Maru (1987, 43 G/T) can carry 170 passengers.

Gate

The fares are 50 yen ($0.4) per adult, 20 yen ($0.16) per child (2002).

Translation: No17 Wakato Maru, W, Wakamatsu Shipyard Co., Ltd, 1987

Wakamatsu Ferry Terminal

What a quick cruising! I arrived at Wakamatsu soon. I took a train at JR Wakamatsu station and went to Fukuoka City (Hakata). Oh, I was tired.

Hakata(Fukuoka)-Naoetsu(Joetsu) (Kyuetsu Ferry)

02/11/19