About Museum

Outline of this Museum

Seikan tunnel lays 240m below the sea level and overall length of this Tunnel is 53.85 km.
Seikan tunnel goes through the seabed of Tsugaru Straits.

In the “Exhibition Hall”, we show you various trajectories in detail during 42years under hostile condition. We use music, video and sterically-model based on the materials at the day.
In the “Tunnel”, you can enjoy “the world of 140 m below the surface of the sea”. We lead you there by the shortest private railroad in the world, “Seikan Tunnel Tappi inclined passage line, called Mogura (mole) train” in only 9minutes. This train goes through the inclined passage 14 degrees.
We set up an Exhibition area in the Tunnel really used for the operation, and show you machines or devices used for digging. We reproduce and display the ambience of the field at the day.
This touring experience takes about 45 minutes.
Please feel the great world class undertaking.

In addition, you can enjoy fresh seafood meal at the seafood restaurant “Ajisai”, and can buy some souvenir such as indigenous products and original goods at the souvenir shop.

Advances in Seikan Tunnel Construction

Seikan tunnel belongs to the Hokkaido Railways Company (JR Hokkaido) and connects Hamana, Imabetsu-machi , higashitsugaru-gun, Aomori prefecture and Yunosato, Shiriuchi-cyo, Kamiiso-gun, Hokkaido prefecture. It goes through the seabed of Tsugaru Straits under about 100m from the ground.
The beginning of this tunnel is Aomori side and the end is Hokkaido side.
Seikan Tunnel is as part of the Tsugaru Kaikyo Line (which connects Hakodate city in Hokkaido pref. and Aomori city in Aomori pref. ) and constructed with Shinkansen specifications. So Hokkaido-Shinkansen will open anytime soon.

  • April 1946: Geological surveying began.
  • September 1954: The train ferry Toya Maru a ferry that plies between Aomori and Hakodate had an accident.
  • March 1964: Japan Railway Construction Public Corporation was established.
  • May 1964: Excavation of Hokkaido side’s inclined passage started.
  • March 1966: Excavation of Honsyuu side’s inclined passage started.
  • January 1983: Pilot tunnel breakthrough Heading passed through.