Cycling Trip Diary for Travelers山大生のサイクリング旅日記

This time, we cycled in Shimonoseki City, located in the westernmost part of Honshu, Japan’s main island. The city has mild weather with little difference in temperature throughout the year, making it possible to enjoy sightseeing in any season. Shimonoseki is also a very convenient city for transportation. Shinkansen and expressways run through the city; it is easily accessible from the Kyushu and Kansai regions.

Shimonoseki Ekikita cycle parking lot, where you can rent a bicycle, is located inside Shimonoseki Station. It looks like an ordinary cycle parking lot, so you may be wondering if they rent out bikes, but don’t worry. Please don’t hesitate to come in.
You can fill out the application form in Japanese only. Therefore, you will need a basic level of Japanese communication or a Japanese speaking friend.

-How to rent a bicycle-

1. Call in advance to make a reservation.
2. Go to The manager’s office of Shimonoseki Station cycle parking lot.
3. Fill out the application form.
4. Show your ID card (representative only)
5. Pay the fee (cash only).
6. Ask the janitor to take you to cycle parking lot.
7. Complete the application.

Next to the manager’s Shimonoseki Station cycle parking lot office, there are pamphlets about Shimonoseki City.
You’ll find many pamphlets and cycling maps with detailed information about each spot.

First, we went to the former British Consulate.
Western Japan achieved remarkable development in the latter half of the Meiji era (around 1900). Shimonoseki became the center of diplomacy, economy, and transportation, and in 1901, the British Consulate was established in the city. In 1906, the building shown in the photo on the right was built. It is the oldest remaining consulate building in Japan and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
The red-brick building has a very British feel to it.
I especially recommend the Consular Room in the facility. You can sit in the chair and feel like a consular officer.

There are also touch panels and tablet terminals where you can learn about the history of the place. The tablet devices and the pamphlets placed here are available in English, too.
Jessica said, “I’m glad they put English pamphlets here.”

Next, we visited the Karato Market. In addition to fish caught in the Shimonoseki, many fish from other regions are gathered. In addition to wholesaling fish selling whole fish at wholesale prices. The market also sells sushi and fried food, making it a popular spot for young people and foreign tourists. Especially on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, a food and drink event called ikiki Bakan gai (Lively Bakan Street) is held. Bakan is another name for Shimonoseki.

We bought our lunch at Karato Market. Many stores are lined up here, and each store allows you to choose what kind of sushi you want to eat. Cash is the primary payment method, but some restaurants also accept electronic money.

Tuna (Maguro), salmon (Salmon), squid (Ika), horse mackerel (Aji), shrimp (Ebi) ……
We had a lot of sushi!
All of the ingredients were large, fresh, and satisfying.
Jessica said that she loves sushi, especially salmon.

This time, one of our members had a bowl of Kaisen-don (seafood rice bowl), as shown in the photo on the left.
It is a dish of vinegared rice topped with variety of sashimis. Kaisen-don is recommended for those who want to eat different kinds of ingredients at once!

Next, we went to Akama Shrine, where Emperor Antoku is enshrined. Emperor Antoku died at the age of only eight in the Battle of Dannoura. The Battle of Dannoura was the final battle between the Minamoto and Heike clans in 1185.
This place is also the setting for a ghost story called “Mimi nashi Hoichi.” You can find the details of this story below. Every year on July 15th, a festival called Mimi nashi Hoichi Festival is held, with rituals and biwa performances in front of the graves of Hoichi and the Heike clan.
The main attraction is the Suitenmon gate at the entrance. The two colors, red and white, make it stand out.

The photo on the right shows the main shrine. After worshipping, we went to buy an omikuji (fortune paper). The explanation of Omikuji is below.
Jessica got “Daikichi” and best luck! It’s not good to be overly happy or sad about omikuji, but it’s still lovely to get good luck. I hope you will try it too.

This shrine is not only beautiful, but it also has a sad history and anecdotes behind it, which makes me love it even more.
Jessica said that Akama Shrine was the most memorable part of this cycling trip. She made a wish to get healthier life.

Bits of knowledge　― Omikuji ―
Omikuji is generally considered to be a fortune telling tool. At shrines, you pay money and choose one of the lots in a box to draw to see your fortune. It contains good or bad luck and details about money, work, love, etc. The format differs from shrine to shrine.
In the past, omikuji in Japan was used to listen to the opinions of the gods. The views of the gods were used to make important decisions about the country’s politics and other matters.

The omikuji is drawn after you have prayed.
After you have removed the omikuji, check your fortune. The order of fortune is “大吉(great luck), 吉(good luck),中吉(middle luck), 小吉(little luck), 末吉(last luck), and 凶(bad luck).
The result of the fortune is important, but the advice written at the end is also enjoyable.

We arrived at the last spot of the trip, Mimosusogawa Park. This park is said to have originated from a poem written by Nii no ama (Taira no Tokiko), 今ぞ知る 身もすそ川の 御ながれ 波の下にもみやこありとは(Now I know that there is a Miyako under the waves of the Mimosuso River). The poem was written to Emperor Antoku, and it is said to have the following meaning: You, with the blood of the Heike family flowing in your veins, would know that there is a capital under this wave, which is fed by the Isuzu River (also known as the Mimosuso River) in Ise, which is closely related to the Heike family.

This is the place where the Battle of Dannoura took place. In the park, there are bronze statues representing Minamoto no Yoshitsune’s “Hassou Tobi” and Taira no Tomomori’s “Ikarikazuki.” They are the two prominent figures in this battle. Hasou Tobi refers to how Yoshitsune jumped from one ship to another at sea. Ikarikazuki refers to the scene of Taira no Tomomori entering the water carrying an anchor on his body.

We took a commemorative picture by imitating the movements of the statue.
Why don’t you take a picture with the Kanmon Straits in the background like in this picture?
By the way, the opposite shore in the photo’s background is Fukuoka Prefecture. It’s so close, that if you shout at the other side of the strait, your voice will almost reach it.

And here, a replica of the “Choshu cannon (80-pounder Kano cannon)” used in the 1864 bombardment of Shimonoseki by the Shikoku Fleet is installed.
This incident was between the Choshu clan, which had jurisdiction over Shimonoseki, and the allied forces of Britain, the United States, France, and the Netherlands.
For 100 yen, you can experience what it feels like to shoot a cannon, so why don’t you try it?

No.1 When there are people on the sidewalk, please push your bike.

Sidewalks are for pedestrian traffic.

No.2 Wear a helmet

To reduce the impact on your head when falling while riding a bicycle.

No.3 Riding on the left

In Japan, the basic rule is to drive on the left side of the road.

No.5 Lock up your bicycle when you park it.

To prevent theft.

No.6 Riding on the bike path

To allow pedestrians to walk safely on the sidewalk.

his undersea tunnel connects Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture with Moji in Fukuoka Prefecture. It takes about 15 minutes on foot to get to Moji.
This humanitarian road is recognized as a national road, and many tourists and residents visit.
You can even push your bike across it!
(A fee of 20 yen will be charged).

Nagato no Kuni Ichinomiya Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of the three major Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan, along with Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Osaka and Sumiyoshi Shrine in Fukuoka. This shrine was built in 200 and has a very long history. It is a shrine with a very long history. The main shrine was rebuilt in 1370 and is designated as a national treasure. The main hall was rebuilt in 1370 and is defined as a national treasure. It is built in a rare architectural style in Japan called Kyugenshanagarezukuri. I highly recommend that everyone visit this place.