Ao-no domon (Blue Tunnels)

R264 (above) R265 (below)

Issue Ao-no domon (Blue Tunnels) Prefecture Ooita Date of Issue 1 February 1999 Denomination vertical se-tenant pair of 80 yen Designs R264: Mt. Kyoshu-hou in autumn R265: Ao-no domon in spring Quantity 6,000,000 se-tenant pairs Image Area 27.0 x 22.5 millimeters, horizontal Printing Offset in 5 colours Sheet 20 stamps (5 x 4) Designer Hokazono Masami (Watercolour painter) Sold at Post offices in Kyushu, and the appointed post offices (see the menu page) First Day of Issue Postmark Yabakei Post Office Ao-no domon (Blue Tunnels), Pane Issue Ao-no domon (Blue Tunnels), Pane Price 800 yen (80 yen x 10) Pane Size 160 x 51.0 millimeters, horizontal Pane 10 stamps (5 x 2) Catalog No. R265P

Japanese Stamp Specialized Catalog (JSCA) & SAKURA Catalog numbers are adopted.

Ao-no domon (Blue Tunnels)

It was in 1734 that Zenkai, a travelling Buddhist priest, started driving Ao-no domon (Blue Tunnels) that people of the region had suffered by the steep mountains. He completed the first part of the tunnels over sixteen years and that was succeeded by hired masons. It took thirty years to get through all the way. After its completion, it became one of the pioneering toll road in Japan. At the toll gate, 4 mon a person and 8 mon a horse were paid.
Mt. Kyoshu-hou, which stands over the tunnels is one of the sightseeing points in Yabakei valley. (R264: Mt. Kyoshu-hou in autumn). The reflectionh of the mountain on the Yamakunigawa river attracts many people. (R265: Ao-no domon in spring).