This isn’t just any stretch of water; it’s one of Japan’s busiest shipping lanes. From the deck, we watched a constant parade of vessels: cargo ships, tugboats, ferries — all weaving and manoeuvring with impressive precision. Because of our size, we crept forward at a near crawl, especially as we approached Shimonoseki, where the straits narrow dramatically. You could almost feel the concentration on the bridge.
Both banks were alive with activity. Heavy industry lined the shoreline — cranes towering overhead, dry docks brimming with ships under repair, workers pausing to wave as we passed. It felt wonderfully real and unfiltered. We slipped beneath several vast bridges, each one framing the ship perfectly as cameras clicked all around us.
Once docked, reality hit — our berth was seemingly miles from civilisation. No charming harbourfront welcome here. So, we hopped on the ship’s transfer bus to Shimonoseki’s main station and set off to explore properly.
Our first stop was Akamajingu Shrine, a striking shrine with vivid red architecture and deep historical significance.
Nearby lies the site of the Battle of Dan-no-ura, one of Japan’s most famous naval battles. Standing beneath the sweeping span of the Kanmon Bridge, with its impressive cannons and statues commemorating the conflict, you can almost picture the dramatic events that unfolded there in 1185.
After soaking up the history, we wandered through the streets of Shimonoseki, where the city proudly celebrates its most famous delicacy — fugu, or pufferfish. Statues of the quirky-looking fish pop up all over town, a fun and slightly surreal reminder that this is Japan’s pufferfish capital.
From industrial waterways to ancient battlefields and fishy mascots, Shimonoseki turned out to be far more fascinating than that distant dock first suggested.
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