About the Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel
The Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel (旧北陸線第二観音寺トンネル, Kyū Hokurikusen Daini Kannonji Tonneru) is a former railway tunnel in Ohida, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, completed around 1895 and entered on the national register as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 25 February 2016. It is 310 m long and 3.9 m wide, curving gently through the hillside.
The First Kannonji Tunnel is about 80 m to the south and the Magaridani Tunnel about 50 m to the north, so the Second Kannonji Tunnel sits in the middle of the closely spaced chain of bores on the climb. It is owned by Fukui Prefecture.
Why the Second Kannonji Tunnel Was Registered
The Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel was registered with the other twelve structures of the old line, as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that its lining and portals are almost identical in structure and appearance to those of the First Kannonji Tunnel.
What sets it apart is what the railway left behind. According to the Agency, metal fittings for wiring from the railway era survive at the springing of the arch, the point where the vault rises from the side walls. Tsuruga City adds that light fittings and power outlets also remain. Beyond its brick and stone, then, the tunnel keeps physical traces of the equipment that once served the trains running through it.
Tsuruga City says the contract went to a consortium of local Hokuriku firms and that the same builder probably worked on the neighbouring Magaridani Tunnel.
What to Look for at the Second Kannonji Tunnel
The portals are stone; inside, the arch is brick in stretcher bond and the side walls are stone. Once inside, look up along the line where wall meets vault. The fittings along the springing of the Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel are thought to have held cables, a small reminder of the equipment that served the trains.
Comparing portals is rewarding here too. The First Kannonji Tunnel, 80 m south, looks almost the same, and the Magaridani Tunnel, 50 m north, is thought to share the same builder. Walking past all three in a row shows how alike, and how subtly different, the bores of one stretch can be.
Visiting the Second Kannonji Tunnel
The Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel is part of the road along the old line and can be passed through by car or on foot. There is no fee and no reception point. It is a single lane 3.9 m wide, and its curve hides the far end, so if you are walking to look for the fittings, listen and watch for vehicles and avoid stopping for long.
The fittings sit high up at the base of the arch, so a torch helps. For photographs, the brighter areas near the portals work best. Remember that you are on a road and pick a spot that keeps clear of traffic.
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Q&A
- Where is the Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel?
- In Ohida, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, with the First Kannonji Tunnel about 80 m to the south and the Magaridani Tunnel about 50 m to the north.
- When was the Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel built, and when was it registered?
- It was completed around 1895 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 25 February 2016, together with the other twelve structures of the old line.
- What traces of the railway remain in the Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel?
- Metal wiring fittings from the railway era survive at the springing of the arch. Tsuruga City notes that light fittings and power outlets also remain.
- How does the Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel differ from the First Kannonji Tunnel?
- The Agency describes the lining and portals as almost identical, but the second tunnel is far longer: 310 m against 82 m.
- Can you go through the Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel, and is there a fee?
- Yes. It is part of the road along the old line and is open to cars and pedestrians, with no fee or reception. It is a single, gently curving lane, so walkers should take care with traffic.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel |
|---|---|
| Location | Ohida, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | 2016 (Heisei 28), registered |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Length 310 m, width 3.9 m |
| Owner | Fukui Prefecture |
| Public Access | Open to traffic as part of a road; no fee or reception |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010957
- Cultural Heritage Online: Former Hokuriku Line Second Kannonji Tunnel
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/221017
- Japan Heritage Portal: component property Second Kannonji Tunnel
- https://japan-heritage.bunka.go.jp/ja/culturalproperties/result/4968/
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Meiji-era infrastructure sheet: Second Kannonji Tunnel
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/sogoseisaku/region/infratourism/assets/pdf/meiji/kinki069.pdf
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Former Hokuriku Line First Kannonji Tunnel
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010956
- Tsuruga City: List of national and prefectural cultural properties
- https://www.city.tsuruga.lg.jp/page/4435.html
Last verified: 2026.10.07
