A Longer Curve Through the Ridge
Eighty metres north of the First Kannonji Tunnel, the Second Kannonji Tunnel runs for about 310 metres on a gentle curve. In construction it closely resembles its neighbour: the same cut-stone side walls and portals, the same brick arch overhead. Seen from outside, the two are near twins. Step inside, though, and the second tunnel keeps something the first does not.
The tunnel dates from around 1895 and lies in the Ohida district of Tsuruga, on the same climbing section of the former Hokuriku Line below the Kinome Pass.
Fittings From the Age of Steam
Along the springing of the brick arch, where the curve begins to rise from the side walls, the tunnel still carries metal fittings from its railway years. These once held the wiring that ran the length of the bore. They are easy to miss, but once noticed they change how the tunnel feels: this was not built as a scenic curiosity but as working infrastructure, and the hardware of that work is still bolted to the brick.
Because the tunnel is long and curved, daylight from one portal does not reach the other. For a stretch in the middle the darkness is complete, and the small fittings overhead are best found with a torch.
Value and Visiting
Registered in 2016 alongside the rest of the line, the Second Kannonji Tunnel earns its place both as a fine masonry bore and as a rare survival of the fittings that made it a railway. For visitors, it rewards slow attention rather than a quick drive-through.
The alignment is a single-lane public road. Obey the signals at the tunnel mouths, keep headlights on, and do not stop inside to photograph the fittings, since the passage is only wide enough for one vehicle. Repairs occasionally close parts of the route, so confirm access before travelling.
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Questions and Answers
- What are the fittings inside the tunnel?
- They are metal fixtures from the railway era, set at the springing of the brick arch. They once supported the wiring that ran through the tunnel when trains still used it.
- How is it different from the First Kannonji Tunnel?
- It is much longer, about 310 metres against 82, and curves more. The two share almost the same portal and lining design, but only the Second retains the railway wiring fittings.
- Is the interior dark?
- Yes. Because it is long and curved, the middle of the tunnel receives no daylight from either end. A torch is needed to see the fittings and the brickwork clearly.
- Where exactly is it?
- In the Ohida district of Tsuruga, about 80 metres north of the First Kannonji Tunnel, on the former Hokuriku Line alignment now used as a road.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel |
|---|---|
| Location | Ohida, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure), registered 25 February 2016 |
| Registration No. | 18-0149 |
| Built | around 1895 (Meiji era) |
| Structure | Stone and brick; length 310 m, width 3.9 m |
| Owner | Fukui Prefecture |
| Access | On the former Hokuriku Line alignment (single-lane public road); obey tunnel signals; confirm road status before visiting |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Cultural Properties Database — Second Kannonji Tunnel
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010957
- Tsuruga City Tourism Association — Former Hokuriku Line Tunnels
- https://tsuruga-kanko.jp/spot/history_culture/hokuriku-line-tunnel/
- Fukui Prefecture Official Travel Guide (Fuku-e.com)
- https://www.fuku-e.com/spot/detail_1640.html
Last verified: 2026.07.09