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| Japan 500 Yen Coin |
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| Japanese 500 Yen coin |
Obverse: Perspective view of the Seiko Tunnel, surrounded by waves and sea gulfs.
Reverse: Map of the isles of Japan connected by the Tunnel, within band.
The Seikan Tunnel ) is a 53.85-kilometre (33.46 mi) railway tunnel in Japan, with a 23.3-kilometre (14.5 mi) long portion under the seabed. Track level is about 140 metres (460 ft) below seabed and 240 m (790 ft) below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line of Hokkaido Railway Company. The name Seikan comes from combining the on'yomi readings of the first characters of Aomori and Hakodate, the nearest major city on the Hokkaido side.
Reference: KM-93.
Denomination: 500 Yen
Mint Year: 1988 (year 63)
Material: Copper-Nickel
Weight: 13.04 gm
Diameter: 30 mm
Seikan is both the longest and the deepest operational rail tunnel in the world, although the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland will be longer when it opens to traffic in 2016. It is also the longest undersea tunnel in the world, although the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and France has a longer undersea portion.