Osaka, Japan
The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge has the tallest towers and the longest span of any bridge in the world and visitors to Kobe will want to see its dimensions for themselves. A stiffened truss suspension bridge, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge’s steel construction is designed to withstand the earthquakes, typhoons and other forces of nature that occur in the area.
Construction began in 1988 and the bridge was opened ten years later. The centre span is 1,991 metres long, the total length of the bridge is nearly four kilometres and the height of the towers is 283 metres. As the Akashi Straits are an important shipping channel, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge was built to not impede this. The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is also called the Pearl Bridge and the road there is called the Honshu-Shikoku Highway.
At either end of the bridge is a small park dedicated to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, with replica pieces of the bridge on display. The bridge connects Awaji Island with Kobe. Kobe’s Maiko Marine Promenade has exhibits detailing the construction of the bridge as well as an observation lounge to view it. Other places to visit around Kobe include the Ferris Wheel, Nunobiki Herb Park and Naka Pier.
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