From this article,I’ll introduce 3 cities in Yamaguchi prefecture for three times.
First city is Shimonoseki.
Yamaguchi prefecture is located Chugoku Distric,Honshu.
West end of Honshu.
From Tokyo to Shimonoseki,It takes 5 hours by Shinkansen.
Air plane and bus,It takes about 3 hours.
Shimonoseki is famous for Puffer fish.
Generally,Japanese people call Puffer fish “Fugu(河豚)”,but Shimonoseki people call it “Fuku”.
Because “Fuku”（福） means happy.
Shimonoseki people loves Fuku!
So,It is seen all over the city.
If you get to Shimonoseki,and want to eat some food,you should go Karato market.
It closes 3:00pm.
So,you should go there for lunch.
When I went to Karato market,It had already closed.
But I had wanted to eat Fuku,I went to small restaurant “Fuku no Kawaku”at Kamonwharf.
Kamonwharf is next to Karato market.
Fuku is so expensive food.
But this restaurant is cheap.
So if you only to try just a little,this restaurant will be good.
Do you feel the anxiety to poison of Fuku??
Don’t worry,It’s absolutely safe.
Cooks have special licence.
It’s tasty.
And you can go Ganryujima island from Kamonwharf about 10 minutes.
But,number of departure is very few,please check time table carefully.
In 1612,Musashi Miyamoto and Ssasaki Kojiro held duel in Ganryujima island. Musashi Miyamoto won. This duel is famous among Japanese people. Kojiro Sasaki(left) MUsashi Miyamoto(right)
Musashi Miyamoto is model of Japanese famous manga”Vagabond” written by Takehiko Inoue(famous for basketball manga “Slum Dunk”).
“Vagabond” is interesting.
If you read it,you will want to go Ganryujima island.
Returning to Kamonwarf, you’ll find a panel.
Here you can become Musashi and Kojiro.
Don’t hesitate! Enjoy it!
In Japanese popular traveler’s destination,the panel like this is located.
So you should take photos here.Of course,your face is fitted to panel ‘s hole.
Then,return to city.
In 1895,Shimonoseki Treaty was signed in Shomonoseki
Sino-Japanese War ended by this treaty.
Here is Memorial museum of Shimonoseki Treaty.
Here is reproduced the conference.
Actually the conference was held Shunpanro.
Shunpanro is a hotel located next to Memorial museum.
And next,I introduce Akamajinja shrine.
Akamajinja shrine is full of mystery.
Theses are tombs of Taira clan warriors.
In 1185,Taira clan was destroyed by Minamoto clan.
The last battle of war was held Dannoura near Akamajinja shrine in Shimonoseki Strait.
Heike’s prosperity and destroy is described in “The Tale of the Heike(平家物語 Heikemonogatari)” written in Kamakura Period(1185-1333).This story represent transience of world.
“The Tale of the Heike” was sung by blind monk with Biwa(Japanese short-necked fretted lute).
Those monks are called “Biwahoushi”(means Biwa player monk).
It’s very emotional melody.And so slow.It takes several minute to read a few lines.
Hoichi is a character of the story “Hoichi the Earless”.He is Biwahoushi in the story.
This is horrible story.This story is translated in Kwidan by Lafcadio Hearn.
So,you can read it in English.
Here is Hoichi Hall in Akamajinja shrine.
Next is place is Dannoura.
Here is the place where Heike clan destroyed by Minamoto clan.Historic battlefield.
Here you can see statue.
And big bridge behind statue is Kanmon bridge.
Opposite side is Moji,Fukuoka prefecture,Kyushu district. It’s very near.
And here are exhibit replica of canons used in Shimonoseki Campaign(1864)
They are very powerful.
You can walk from Shimonoseki to Moji through the tunnel under the sea.
Entrance is under the Kanmon bridge.
The deepest place is 56m depth from sea level. Deepest place is border of the Yamaguchi and Fukuoka. The lengtht is 780m. Fresh air is supplied by air duct. Many people enjoy running here.Unfortunately,their is no window.
These places are near Shimonoseki station.
But I introduce the most photogenic place in Shimonoseki city.
It’s Tsunoshima bridge.
Tsunoshima bridge is often introduced superb view place of Japan.
But difficult to go by public transportation.
Though here belongs to Shimonoseki city,here is far away.
So I recommend to go by car from Shimonoseki.
If you go by car,You can go other places.
I went there by train and taxi.
It took long time.
And I couldn’t have enough time to take photos of superb view.
Because I had to let taxi stay.
But view from train was beautiful.
And Ekiben（lunch box） was beautiful and tasty.
You can buy Ekiben at Shimonoseki station.
Here is Tsunoshima bridge.
Stunning beautiful place!!
This day was cloudy.
But I could enjoy.
You can go Tsunoshima island through the bridge by car.
Walking in bridge is prohibited.
There is light house,and you can enjoy beautiful view.
And There is famous sea food restaurant.But I didn’t go.
I think Tsunoshima bridge is very impressive place.
Though it is hard,you should go if you go Shimonoseki.
At the last of the article,I introduce cheap and tasty food in Yamaguchi prefecture.
This is Chikuwa(ちくわ).Made from Fish meat.
You can buy this at supermarket or convenience store.
I have eaten many Chikuwa,but I think Yamaguchi prefecture is No1.
Please try it!
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