The Kanmon Tunnel, an undersea roadway that connects Kitakyushu to Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, has become a popular destination for foreign tourists. Completed in 1958, the Kanmon Tunnel carries vehicle traffic on the upper level and pedestrian traffic on the lower level, which sits 60m underground. The Kitakyushu entrance is located not far from the Mojiko Retro area and can be accessed by elevator. Undersea tunnels are quite rare overseas, so the Kanmon Tunnel has become a hit with foreign visitors. “I’m amazed that this was built more than 50 years ago. It’s very cool inside and would be great for running,” said Richard Tan, a visitor from Singapore. There is no record of foreign visitor numbers, but the number of tunnel tickets issued has jumped 600% between 2008 and 2014. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 5/12
