Akashi Kaiyo Bridge

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (明石海峡大橋), also known as the Pearl Bridge, is a world-renowned suspension bridge that spans the Akashi Strait in Japan, connecting the city of Kobe on the mainland of Honshu to Iwaya on Awaji Island. With a total length of 3,911 meters (12,831 feet) and a central span of 1,991 meters (6,532 feet), it holds the record for the longest central span of any suspension bridge in the world. The bridge is an architectural marvel and a testament to Japanese engineering prowess, designed to withstand extreme conditions such as high winds, strong currents, and earthquakes.

Construction of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge began in 1988 and was completed in 1998, taking a decade to build at a total cost of approximately 500 billion yen (around 3.6 billion US dollars at the time). The bridge’s two main towers, which stand at 298.3 meters (978.7 feet) tall, are among the tallest structures in Japan. The bridge’s deck is supported by a complex system of cables composed of thousands of individual wires, each with a diameter of less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches).

Visitors can experience the bridge’s impressive scale and engineering up close through the Bridge World (橋の科学館) museum, located near the bridge’s anchorages on the Kobe side. The museum offers exhibits and displays that explain the bridge’s construction, history, and technology. While regular pedestrian access to the bridge is not permitted, the museum provides a virtual experience of walking across the bridge through its simulators and observation decks, offering stunning views of the Akashi Strait, the surrounding islands, and the city of Kobe.

Getting there

By Train

From Sannomiya Station (Kobe):

• Take the JR Kobe Line to Maiko Station (25 minutes, 320 yen)
• Walk about 5 minutes from Maiko Station to the Bridge Exhibition Center

Alternatively:

• Take the Sanyo Railway Main Line to Maiko-koen Station
• Walk about 7 minutes to the Bridge Exhibition Center

By Bus

From Shin-Kobe Station:

• Take a direct bus to Awaji IC
• Get off at the Bridge Exhibition Center

Bridge World (Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Exhibition Center)

Hours	9:15 AM – 5:00 PM Reception closes at 4:30 PM.
Admission	Adults: 500 yen Age 65 and above: 350 yen Elementary school and junior high school students: 250 yen
Phone	+81 78-784-3339
Address	4-114 Higashimaikocho, Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 655-0047

Details

Hours	Open 24 hours
Phone	+81 78-709-0084
Address	4 Higashimaikocho, Tarumi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 655-0047