Crossing the Kanmon Bridge - One-day self-driving tour from Kyushu to Honshu
#日本自驾
At 7am in the morning, we set off from Fukuoka in northern Kyushu to cross the Kanmon Bridge, across the strait between Kyushu and Honshu, intending to visit a famous strawberry farm, visit the peculiar and beautiful Motonosumi Shrine⛩️, and finally return to Karato Market to enjoy fresh sushi.
🏞️ 1. The spectacular Kanmon Bridge (Kanmon Bridge)
Driving on the Kanmon Bridge connecting Kitakyushu and Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement in my heart. This bridge spans the Kanmon Strait, with a total length of more than 1 kilometer and a wide and stable bridge deck. Looking out of the car window, on the left is the sparkling Seto Inland Sea, and on the right is the quaint Shimonoseki Port. It is really a moving sea and sky painting.
After driving across the bridge, we officially set foot on Honshu, and a sense of excitement about exploring new lands surged in my heart.
🍓 2. Sweet time in the strawberry farm: Hana no Hai
In the suburbs not far away, we made an appointment with a well-known strawberry tourist farm - Hana no Hai (Hana no Hai). Every year in late winter and early spring is the sweetest season for strawberries. It is so happy to experience picking and eating them right away.
Walking into the greenhouse, a sweet fruity fragrance hits your nose. The eyes are full of bright red strawberries, and the crystal clear and plump fruits are picked one by one. Take a bite, the flesh is juicy, sweet and sour, completely different from what you buy in the supermarket. Everyone has a small bag to hold the leftover leaves, which is very environmentally friendly.
In addition to strawberries, this farm also has a small zoo area, which surprised us!
The tame sheep graze leisurely on the green grass, and their appearance is really healing. The rabbit area on the side is also very popular. There are several cute rabbits with soft fur living in it, jumping close to tourists, and everyone can feed them with feed.
The whole park was filled with laughter and children's exclamations. The dual experience of strawberries and animals made us feel the charm of nature and life. It was a wonderful time for parents and children to share.
⛩️ 3. A unique shrine for praying for good luck: Motonosumi Shrine
In the afternoon, we drove to Motonosumi Shrine in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The coastline along the way was pleasant, and the location of the shrine was even more amazing. It is surrounded by mountains and the sea, and rows of red torii stretch down, like a tunnel leading to a mysterious world.
The most special thing here is the "offering box" (money box) hanging high above the torii. It is said that those who hit the box will get good luck. We stood at the designated point and threw coins into the air one by one. From time to time, a "ding" sound came, representing a hit. When one person successfully hit the target, the audience applauded and laughed, and the atmosphere was lively and warm.
The shrine not only prays for luck, but also has a large and magnificent landscape facing the Sea of Japan. Standing on the cliff and looking at the sea, the sound of waves hitting the rocks and the salty sea breeze make people feel refreshed.
🍣 4. Delicious finale: Karato Market (Karato Market)
In the evening, we returned to Karato Market in Shimonoseki City. This market near the port is one of the most famous seafood markets in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Although the number of stalls is slightly reduced after nightfall, you can still enjoy fresh catches in the internal cafeteria and sushi stalls.
We chose several popular sushi restaurants. Each piece of sushi is made and sold on the spot. The price is reasonable and the freshness is amazing. Their puffer sushi and seared yellowtail sushi are especially recommended. They melt in your mouth and are unforgettable. After eating, you can also buy some local specialties, such as mentaiko, dried scallops, kelp, etc. to take home.
Although this self-driving journey is only a short day, it is full of various flavors: there is the grandeur of crossing the island, the parent-child fun of sweet fruit picking, and the coin-throwing prayer ceremony of the shrine⛩️ and the satisfaction of market sushi. The charm of Japan lies in its layers and layers, which make people reminisce again and again and never forget it.