05 Jun 2024

Seaside in Shimonoseki

After returning from South Korea, we arrived dockside in Shimonoseki to continue our adventure in Japan.

Those visiting the island of Tsunoshima followed the coastline almost the entire way. The sea views across the clear waters included the local fishermen at work and villages full of traditional houses. Across the long bridge to the island, we explored the lighthouse and visited the natural history museum.

Some returned to Heritage Adventurer for lunch while others opted to make their selection from the Karato Fish Market. A large variety of food was available at the market and from nearby restaurants, including the local delicacy of fugu, or pufferfish, for those brave enough to try it – fugu being deadly if not prepared by expert-level chefs.

For those choosing the art option, we visited the Shimonoseki City History Museum. We enjoyed excellent displays and videos showcasing the changes and development of this area, giving a full understanding of the history surrounding us.

Next, we visited the Idemitsu Museum of Arts. This gave us a great insight into the man, Sazō Idemitsu, who built up an Empire and collected magnificent art pieces on display today. It’s a fabulous presentation of his life, the hardships he endured and his success, that led to his ability to have pottery from the 14th Century and bronze items from the 10th Century. Most of the pottery items are related to traditional Tea Ceremonies, so we learned about that as well.

We all had the chance to visit Chōfu Garden, a historic and tranquil garden that offered an escape from the nearby bustling city. The garden, dating from the Edo Period, is in traditional Japanese style, featuring beautifully landscaped ponds, stone lanterns, and meticulously maintained trees and flowers.

Returning to Heritage Adventurer we were farewelled by a brass band and joined the parade of vessels through the busy Kanmon Strait. We followed the navigation lights and passed the sights we had seen from the land enjoying the warm breeze. This was the entrance to the Inland Seto Sea which will carry us eastward for the rest of our voyage. 

Images © E Bell, Heritage Expeditions