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Driving Across the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Shibuya246 · · 7 photos

Driving Across the Akashi Kaikyo BridgePhoto dataCameraPanasonic DMC-GF1Focal length20mmAperturef/1.7Shutter1/125sISO100Taken2 Oct 2010, 17:42
Dark blue clouds with a band of golden light over Awaji IslandPhoto dataCameraNikon D700Focal length50mmAperturef/1.4Shutter1/5000sISO200Taken2 Oct 2010, 17:24
The evening sky over Awaji Island before the bridge.

On the last day of my Shikoku trip in October 2010, the weather was so good that I drove across Awaji Island to Kobe instead of heading back the way I came. The last part of the drive is the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which crosses the Akashi Strait from Awaji to Kobe.

Opened in 1998, it is almost 4 km long, and its 1,991 m central span was the longest of any suspension bridge in the world until 2022.

A highway leading to a tall suspension bridge towerPhoto dataCameraPanasonic DMC-GF1Focal length20mmAperturef/1.7Shutter1/250sISO100Taken2 Oct 2010, 17:41
The first tower comes into view.
Looking up at a green bridge tower and its main cables from the roadPhoto dataCameraPanasonic DMC-GF1Focal length20mmAperturef/1.7Shutter1/250sISO100Taken2 Oct 2010, 17:41
Driving under the tower.
A green bridge tower seen close up from belowPhoto dataCameraPanasonic DMC-GF1Focal length20mmAperturef/1.7Shutter1/320sISO100Taken2 Oct 2010, 17:41
Looking up at one of the two main towers.
Suspension cables sweeping down over the road towards the far towerPhoto dataCameraPanasonic DMC-GF1Focal length20mmAperturef/1.7Shutter1/125sISO100Taken2 Oct 2010, 17:42
The main cables sweep down over the road.
A highway entering a tunnel on the Kobe sidePhoto dataCameraPanasonic DMC-GF1Focal length20mmAperturef/1.7Shutter1/125sISO100Taken2 Oct 2010, 17:44
Into the tunnel on the Kobe side.

The crossing only takes a few minutes by car. If you want to see the bridge properly, the Maiko Marine Promenade on the Kobe side lets you walk out under the road deck.

Earlier that day I stopped at Izanagi Jingu, which is in my Shikoku trip post.

I took these photos in October 2010 and only got round to posting them in 2026.

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