Shunpanro: Where History Was Signed & Fugu Was Freed
Perched on a hill overlooking the turbulent Kanmon Strait, Shunpanro is more than a high-end ryokan and restaurant. It is…
Furue-koji: The “Time-Slip” Alley of the Samurai
In the heart of the Chofu Castle Town, there is a labyrinth where the modern world fades away. “Furue-koji” is…
Kan-ke Nagayamon: The Scholar’s Gate on the Golden Street
In the maze of earthen walls that makes up the castle town of Chofu, one alleyway stands out for its…
Hiyoriyama Park: The Samurai’s Lookout & Winter Panorama
Perched on a hill overlooking the turbulent Kanmon Strait, Hiyoriyama Park is Shimonoseki’s oldest public park. Once a weather observation…
Kojoji Temple: The “Koyasan of the West” in Winter Silence
Deep in the mountains of Toyota-cho, Shimonoseki, lies a temple where time seems to stand still. Established in the early…
Chofu Samurai Residence Longhouse: Stepping into the Edo Period
In the castle town of Chofu (Shimonoseki), where the atmosphere of the Edo period lingers, stands a quiet testament to…
Sakurayama Shrine: The Birthplace of the “Samurai Soul” Memorial
Hidden in a quiet residential district of Shimonoseki lies a site of immense historical weight. Sakurayama Shrine is not just…
Manju & Kanju Islands: The “Tide Jewels” of the Dragon God
Floating off the coast of the Chofu castle town in Shimonoseki are two mysterious, uninhabited islands. Covered in primeval forest…
Futami Meoto Iwa: The Sacred Silhouette of the Sunset Coast
While the Tsunoshima Bridge grabs the headlines, a quieter, more spiritual spectacle awaits along Route 191. The “Futami Meoto Iwa”…
Togyo-an: The Samurai’s Resting Place & A Love Story Beyond Death
Hidden in the quiet Yoshida district of Shimonoseki lies the final resting place of the revolutionary samurai, Takasugi Shinsaku. Togyo-an…
Kameyama Hachimangu: The Shrine of the “Unfalling” Ball & The Giant Pufferfish
Overlooking the bustling Kanmon Strait stands Kameyama Hachimangu, a shrine known affectionately by locals as “Kameyama-sama.” Founded in 859, this…
Bakan Famous Kite Flying Competition 2026: Ward Off Evil Over the Kanmon Strait
On February 3rd, the skies over the Kanmon Strait will fill not with seagulls, but with monsters and pufferfish. The…