Study Abroad in Japan

With KCP International, you can earn more Japanese credit than you would in an entire year at your university. Plus, you can pick your start date!

Find out more

Learn Japanese Online

Immerse yourself in the heart of Tokyo with a wide variety of courses, flexible schedules and convenient packages you keep your experience easy!

Apply Now

Join Our Newsletter

Read all about Japanese immersion learning and studying abroad. Check out our eZasshi archives for more articles!

Seikan Tunnel

Seikan Tunnel: The World’s Longest Tunnel with an Undersea Section

Japan is an island nation in East Asia and is often called “Land of the Rising Sun.” It has the third largest economy next to the United States and China, based on the world’s GDP ranking.

Japan has a very interesting history, a rich culture and so many beautiful places to see and experience. The Seikan Tunnel in Japan is the world’s longest tunnel that extends under the sea. The tunnel connects the main Japanese island of Honshu with the northern island of Hokkaido.Tsugaru Straight, Japan.

Since the Taishō period (1912-1925), connecting Honshu and Hokkaido (Japan’s second largest island to the north), has been considered. In 1946, Japan began looking at ways to build a fixed link prompted by the loss of territories abroad at the end of World War II, and the need to house returnees.

Tsugaru Straight, Japan. | Garam

In 1954, a typhoon sank five ferries killing 1,430 passengers in the Tsugaru Strait. The following year, the Japanese national Railways (JNR) expedited the tunnel exploration. There was also an increase in traffic between the two islands with the booming Japanese economy.

In September of 1971, the need for connecting the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido was undeniable. The decision to continue the work on the tunnel commenced. A cross section that would be able to accommodate a Shinkansen (bullet train) was chosen, with plans to extend the Shinkansen network.

Underground Seikan Station

Underground Seikan Tunnel Station in Tohoku, Japan.

A grueling construction in harsh geological conditions ensued with thirty-four workers losing their lives during the construction. The tunnel was finally completed and opened on the 13th of March 1988 with a total cost of $7 billion US dollars to construct, almost 12 times the original budget. This was caused by inflation over the years.

The Seikan Tunnel runs a total length of 33.46 miles with 14.5 miles running under the seabed at a depth of 790 feet below sea level. This makes the Seikan Tunnel the longest and deepest overall in the world with an under the seabed section. About 50 freight trains and 30 Shinkansen bullet trains pass through the tunnel every day, carrying more than two million tons of cargo each year.

Sign-up for our newsletter

Read all about Japanese immersion learning and studying abroad. Check out our eZasshi archives for more articles!