Kanmon Undersea Footpath

The Kanmon Tunnel connects Honshu and Kyushu beneath the Kanmon Strait, and its lower level has been open to pedestrians since 1958. The 780-meter walk takes about 15 minutes and is free of charge, though cyclists pay 20 yen to push a bike through. Accessed via elevator shafts on each side, the deepest point of the tunnel marks the prefectural border between Yamaguchi and Fukuoka, noted with a painted line on the floor. Many first-time visitors stop to straddle the boundary. The tunnel stays comfortable year-round as a rain-sheltered, air-conditioned route, and is regularly used by walkers and joggers.