OVERVIEW

Browse the landmarks that define Shimonoseki and come away with an appreciation for the area’s historical significance. Although Kokura Castle burned to the ground about 200 years after its construction in 1602, the replica that now stands is so iconic that it has become the symbol of the neighboring city Kitakyushu. The guide will point out the elements of the castle that retain the original character. Akama Jingu also honors the past as this Shinto shrine was built to commemorate Emperor Antoku, who died in a decisive sea battle in the Shimonoseki Straits in 1185. While attempting to escape capture, the six-year-old child emperor and his attendants drowned in the sea. You will have plenty of history to reflect upon while meandering through Chofu Garden, which was designed for the residence of a high-ranking samurai. The views are especially lovely by the central pond and from the arched bridge that spans it.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through the only remaining castle in the Fukuoka Prefecture.
• Explore a Shinto shrine that honors a child emperor that died in the 12th century.
• Meander the winding paths in the traditional garden of a former samurai residence.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Gaze out over a dramatic karst landscape from the observatory atop the Akiyoshidai Plateau and see the wonders underground after descending into one of Japan’s largest limestone caves. You will view countless limestone pinnacles from the plateau’s circular observatory, all of which were part of a coral reef eons ago. Once the sea receded, rain dissolved much of the exposed limestone, leaving behind an eerie-looking landscape like no other in Japan. Use the magnifying telescopes on the deck for an even closer look. An elevator will take you down into the depths of the Akiyoshido cave, which is filled with otherworldly stalactites and stalagmites, many of them illuminated for dramatic effect. Some of their names reflect the shapes and colors of the rock formations such as the Golden Column and the One Hundred Plates. A clear stream runs through the bottom of the cave and continually reshapes its limestone landscape.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Marvel at the odd contours and shapes in the karst landscape of the Akiyoshidai Plateau.
• Gain an understanding of the geology behind the plateau’s bizarre formations.
• Explore the massive limestone cave that lies beneath the plateau.
• See a seemingly infinite number of eerily illuminated stalactites and stalagmites.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cross the incredibly photogenic bridge that connects Tsunoshima Island to the mainland and behold the beauty of a seaside park and a Shinto shrine farther down the coast. The sea surrounding the mile-long Tsunoshima Bridge is a shade of cobalt blue that is absolutely mesmerizing. In fact, the color is so startling that one of the island’s beaches is named Cobalt Blue. Even so, the best view of the sea may be from Sezaki Akari Park, a forested area that tends to draw visitors who value natural beauty. A panoramic drive will then bring you to Fukutoku Inari Shrine, which also overlooks the sea but from a clifftop. Revered for its grand vermilion torii gate and dozens of smaller torii gates leading to the sea, the shrine was founded in 1725. While many people visit for the fabulous views, others come to pray for good fortune and safe travels.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take in the natural beauty of Tsunoshima Island from the mile-long bridge leading to it.
• Behold the stunning blue waters that surround the mostly wooded island.
• Gaze out over the sea from the clifftop Shinto shrine Fukutoku Inari.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a spectacular view of the Kanmon Straits from an elevated observatory and for a complete change of pace go shopping in a historical section of Kitakyushu. The Mekari Park Second Observatory offers an unrivalled view of the straits, the waterway that separates the islands of Honshu and Kyushu. Although you can’t see them, the currents are exceptionally strong in the narrow channel, which is an important shipping lane. It is also the site of a 12th-century sea battle in which Japan’s child emperor Antoku drowned. Shopping will be the focus at Kaikyo Plaza, a mall within the Mojiko Retro district that developed around the Moji port. Many of the surrounding buildings date to the 19th century and feature well-preserved Western-style architecture that lend it a nostalgic feel. You will find a multitude of shops in the waterfront mall with merchandise ranging from casual fashions to regional crafts.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gaze out over the beautiful Kanmon Straits from an elevated observatory.
• Learn about the history of the straits and the watershed events that took place there.
• Shop in a modern mall built near Moji port, an area known for its 19th-century buildings.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Meander through the white-walled garden of an early 20th-century residence where Emperor Meiji often stayed and browse a Zen temple founded 600 years earlier. The Chofu Mori clan once controlled the surrounding district and their samurai residence features a garden designed in the kaiyu style with paths leading to different viewpoints. You can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of serenity as you stroll through the garden and relax over a cup of matcha made with a finely ground green tea. Kozanji temple is another tranquil urban oasis but it is also the spot where samurai Takasugi Shinsaku raised his army to restore power to the emperor, which he accomplished by using controversial Western military techniques. A statue of Shinsaku on horseback stands inside the temple, which is an official National Treasure. For a complete change of pace, you will enjoy free time for shopping in the lively Kanmon Wharf mall.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the serenity of the garden that surrounds an early 20th-century samurai residence.
• Appreciate the garden’s kaiyu-style design, which was originally reserved for Zen temples.
• Visit the Zen temple Kozanji, which was founded in the 14th century.
• Spend free time shopping and dining on your own at the bustling Kanmon Wharf mall.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Behold the breathtaking beauty below while riding the cable car up Mount Sarakura and independently explore the shopping mall at Kanmon Wharf. The car follows a rail up to the summit and features large windows that offer sweeping views of Kitakyushu, the city at the mountain’s base. Although the car will pass through forests and along the edges of precipitous slopes, the most memorable part of the ascent will be the panoramic views of Kitakyushu, the northernmost city on Kyushu Island. Yet another perspective awaits from the observation deck atop the mountain’s summit, which rises more than 2,000 feet above the city. Time has also been allotted for shopping at the seaside Kanmon Wharf mall back in Shimonoseki. If you decide to dine on your own, you might try fugu, the city’s most famous dish. This pufferfish delicacy can only be prepared by specially licensed chefs skilled at avoiding the toxins in its body.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ascend Mount Sarakura on a cable car that offers sweeping views of the city below.
• Stand atop the mountain’s 2,000-foot-high summit for the ultimate view of Kitakyushu.
• Spend free time shopping and dining on your own at the bustling Kanmon Wharf mall.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.