description Shin-Kanmon Tunnel Overview
The Shin-Kanmon Tunnel is an undersea railway tunnel beneath the Kanmon Strait, linking Honshu and Kyushu in Japan. Opened in 1975 as part of the Sanyo Shinkansen, it carries high-speed trains between Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture. It provides the Shinkansen network with a direct fixed rail connection between Japan's two main southern islands.
help Shin-Kanmon Tunnel FAQ
What Shinkansen line runs through the Shin-Kanmon Tunnel?
The Shin-Kanmon Tunnel carries the San'yo Shinkansen line, which connects Shin-Osaka Station on Honshu to Hakata Station in Fukuoka on Kyushu. It opened in 1975 as part of the westward extension of the Shinkansen network.
How long is the Shin-Kanmon Tunnel?
The tunnel extends approximately 18.7 kilometers beneath the Kanmon Strait, making it one of the longer railway tunnels in Japan's Shinkansen network. It was an engineering milestone for high-speed rail when it opened in the mid-1970s.
Is the Shin-Kanmon Tunnel different from the Kanmon Tunnel for cars?
Yes, the Shin-Kanmon Tunnel is exclusively for Shinkansen rail traffic, while the older Kanmon Tunnel (opened in 1958) serves highway vehicles crossing between Honshu and Kyushu. There is also a separate pedestrian tunnel, and the area has multiple crossings for different modes of transport.
When did the San'yo Shinkansen reach Hakata through the Shin-Kanmon Tunnel?
The San'yo Shinkansen extension to Hakata Station opened in 1975, completing the high-speed rail link between Osaka and Fukuoka. The Shin-Kanmon Tunnel was a critical component of this extension, allowing trains to bypass the slower conventional rail crossing.
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