# Canonical recap data for Seikan Tunnel Opens Japan (1988)
# Source: https://recap.at/1988/seikan-tunnel-opens
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: seikan-tunnel-opens
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1988/seikan-tunnel-opens"
title: Seikan Tunnel Opens Japan
subtitle: The world's longest undersea tunnel connected Honshu and Hokkaido, transforming Japanese transportation and regional integration.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1988-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1988
decade: 1980
country:
name: Japan
slug: japan
summaryShort: The Seikan Tunnel is a 53.85-kilometre (33.5-mile) dual-gauge railway tunnel in Japan, with a 23.3-kilometre (14.5-mile) segment running beneath the seabed of the Tsugaru Strait, which separates Aomori Prefecture on Honshu, Japan's main island, from the northern island of Hokkaido. The tunnel's track level lies approxi
summaryLong: The Seikan Tunnel is a 53.85-kilometre (33.5-mile) dual-gauge railway tunnel in Japan, with a 23.3-kilometre (14.5-mile) segment running beneath the seabed of the Tsugaru Strait, which separates Aomori Prefecture on Honshu, Japan's main island, from the northern island of Hokkaido. The tunnel's track level lies approximately 100 metres (330 ft) below the seabed and 240 metres (790 ft) below sea level. Following several decades of planning and construction, the tunnel opened on 13 March 1988.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Inside_seikan_tunnel.JPG/1280px-Inside_seikan_tunnel.JPG"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Seikan Tunnel"
importance: 75
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts: []
timeline: []
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seikan_Tunnel"
  title: Seikan Tunnel
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
categories:
- tech-launch
metaDescription: The Seikan Tunnel is a 53.85-kilometre (33.5-mile) dual-gauge railway tunnel in Japan, with a 23.3-kilometre (14.5-mile) segment running beneath the seabed of t
wikidataQid: Q99250
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260616150207/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seikan_Tunnel"
  capturedAt: 2026-06-16
  label: Seikan Tunnel
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seikan_Tunnel"
