せっぷんとんねる

Seppun Tunnel - Kissing Tunnel - Wajima Kissing Tunnel - Fukuga Ana

Useful Information

Location:	Sosogi Machinomachi, Wajima, Ishikawa 928-0206 Noto Peninsula, at the northern end. From Sosogi follow road to Machinomachi, at the entrance of the tunnel, parking lot. (37.462809, 137.081395)
Open:	no restrictions. [2022]
Fee:	free. [2022]
Classification:	Tunnel
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System bring torch
Dimension:	Tunnel 1: L=280 m, Tunnel 2: L=110 m.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Wajima City Tourism Division, Wajima City Machinomachi Sosogi, Tel: +81-768-23-1146. Sosogi Tourism Association, 〒928-0206 Sosogi, Machinomachi, Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Tel: +81-768-32-0408, Fax: +81-768-32-0408.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

There is actually no 輪島せっぷんとんねる (Wajima seppun to n neru, Wajima Kissing Tunnel), it's a movie location which became known under this name. Actually it is an abandoned road tunnel with a hand dug side passage. For the Toho movie せっぷんとんねる (Oblivion Petals) released in 1957 the central scene was filmed here. Here the main character (小泉博さん Hiroshi Koizumi) and the heroine (司葉子さん Yoko Tsukasa) confirmed their love and kissed. The location is marked by a heart-shaped lamp and there is even a camera stand to take a commemorative photo with the self-timer. The site is quite popular, as the movie is famous (at least in Japan). There are explanatory signs in Japanese and English. There is also electric light, which automatically turn on by movement sensor.

At the end of the 70 m long tunnel is a shrine with two stone-carved Fudo-myo-o statues. That's the reason why it is also called 福が穴 (Fuku ga ana, Fortune Hole). According to legend a long time ago, ascetic practitioners would often retreat to the cave to burn goma and carve Buddhist statues for the well-being of the people. The place is said to be a power spot that releases the 'chi' that has converged at the back of the cave to fulfil people's wishes. The Mt Iwakura, where the tunnel was built, is said to be a sacred mountain. The whole story is sheer nonsense as the cave is a tunnel, which means artificial and rather young. It did not exist "long time ago".

The old coast road between Sosogi and Mauramachi was built into the vertical basalt cliffs along the 曽々木海岸 (Sosogi Coast). It was necessary to dig a long and a short tunnel for the road. When a new, longer tunnel was built which covers the whole section of the road, the two tunnels and a part of the road were abandoned. The place is actually popular because of the Kissing Tunnel, but it's also rewarding to have a walk on the old road and enjoy the view. Sosogi Coast has been designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty and National Natural Monument. On the Mauramachi end there is also the Tarumi Waterfall, which is quite popular. On the Sosogi end across the road from the parking lot is the trailhead of a short trail to the Thousand Stone Statues, This is a cliff which consists of typical basalt pillars, which actually look like a wall of Buddha statues.