Cycled the Shimanami Kaido, and Yamaguchi, Saga, Nagasaki etc.

[rbjhan]

Shimonoseki 下関 is a very important city historically.
In chronological order:
1. During the Genpai War, the Heike and Genji fought their famous last battle here, near the Kanmon Bridge location now.
2. Meiji Restoration period, local Choshu clan played a key role in defeating the Tokugawa shoguante. Till this day, politicians from this region hold significant power in Japan thanks to that legacy （Abe was from Yamaguchi.）
3. 1895, the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed here and China handed over Taiwan to Japan at the end of First Sino-Japanese War (also ended China's tributary relations with Korea).

We'll talk about 1 & 3 more later.

 

[rbjhan]

First thing first, lunch!

Next to Karato Market there's a shopping centre called Kanmon Wharf.
Found a Kaiten Sushi place that looked promising.




More Fugu


Tuna


Another serve of seared Nodoguro


Crab miso

 

[rbjhan]

I'm not really a fan of markets, but Karato Market was just next door...




Wanna guess what's their best fish?

 

[rbjhan]

This period after lunch rain was the heaviest....ah yes my shoes were soaked....the mistakes when they came back to bite with force

Shunpanro (Sino Japanese Peace Memorial Hall)
The aforementioned Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed here.



Representing Japan, then Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi & Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu.
**Ito Hirobumi was from Yamaguchi which circles back to our Point 2 above.


Representing China, Li Hong Zhang & Li Jing Fang.


Calligraphy works by Li Hong Zhang & Ito Hirobumi.


The Treaty of Shimonoseki shattered the traditional Chinese dominance in this region. Had huge impact to all three countires in the region, China, Japan and Korea. Not to mention place Taiwan under Japanese rule which lasted till WWII and set the island on a much different trajectory leading to the tension we see now...

 

[rbjhan]

So obviouisly I like history

Next up Genpei War!
I'll try my best to make it quick.

This was basically a civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans, fighting for control of the country, ending in a Minamoto victory and the establishment of Kamakura Shogunate (this was also when Emperors lost their absolute power).
**The name "Genpei" came from alternate readings of the Kanji "源 Minamoto/Gen" and "平 Taira/Hei".

The 5 year war concluded with the Battle of Dan-no-ura 壇ノ浦の戦い in 1185, took place in the Kanmon Strait (a naval battle!). This was one of the most famous battles in Japanese history. Emperor Antoku who was the grandson of Taira Kiyomori (his mother was Taira Tokuko, Kiyomori's daughter), was held by his maternal grandmother and jump into the water, he was 6 years old...

***The Minamoto's general in this battle, Minamoto Yoshitsune, was another very famous historical figure, if anyone's interested...too long to start here

Finally we are here!
Akama Jingu 赤間神宮 is the shrine dedicated to Emperor Antoku, built on the waterfront of Kanmon Strait, as the Emperor's body was never recovered.

Now this was what I called artistic imagination....remember Emperor Antoku was 6 when he died...



The main hall


Suitenmon


Every year in Golden Week the shrine hosts its annual festival, this walkway was being built for it.


Got a very fancy Shuin here

 

[rbjhan]

My shoes and socks were soaked by this point....
Plus I really came to see Akama Jingu and Shunpanro, so let's go back to Kokura and the suitcase, quickly!

JR Kyushu Station Hotel Kokura
I booked a newly renovated double room on the top floor.


Oooh look! A shoe dryer!! Exactly what I needed


Time to do some laundry


There's a lounge for superior floor guests.


No food here, but some drinks.


The Japanese have a vastly different idea about coffee, sadly

 

[rbjhan]

Back to the room.
On a good day the view should be nice.


USB-C port!


Bathroom was the weak point here... damn I hate shrubs...


At least they give you a fancy dryer
This one retails at 33000 Yen, if anyone's interested....

 

[rbjhan]

I was exhausted, plus it was still raining!
Decided I was not going to step outside the building again that day.
Luckily there's a department store (and other shops) attached to the JR Station!

See pic, below "Kokura Station" were the shops, above was the hotel.


Restaurants on the 6th floor.


I picked Tenjin Horumon for dinner, this was a Teppanyaki chain in Kyushu.
**Horumon means offals, but they do also serve normal steak!


711 Microwave Oden for snack