# Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

> Suspension bridge with world's longest main span (1,991m), total length 3,911m, connecting Kobe to Awaji Island. Walkable promenade 47m above the sea.

- Prefecture: Hyogo
- Type: Landmark
- Address: Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Admission: 300 yen
- Official site: https://hyogo-maikopark.jp/en/facility/f01/

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is the world's longest suspension bridge, with a central span of 1,991 meters and a total length of 3,911 meters, connecting the city of Kobe on Honshu to Awaji Island across the Akashi Strait. Completed in 1998 after 10 years of construction, the bridge withstood the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake during its construction period. The Maiko Marine Promenade, located on the Kobe side within Maiko Park, allows visitors to walk along a glass-floored corridor 47 meters above the swirling sea, offering views straight down to the strait below. The adjacent Bridge Exhibition Center documents the bridge's construction history, engineering achievements, and scale models. At night the bridge is illuminated with colorful LED patterns that change seasonally, visible from both shores.

## FAQ

### How do I get to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge viewpoint?

Take the JR Sanyo Line to Maiko Station (about 20 minutes from Sannomiya, 40 minutes from Osaka). The Maiko Marine Promenade and Bridge Exhibition Center are both inside Maiko Park, a 5-minute walk from the south exit. The walkway underneath the bridge is on the Kobe side; for views from across the strait, ferries and buses run from Maiko to Awaji Island.

### What can I do at the Maiko Marine Promenade?

Walk a 317-meter glass-floored corridor 47 meters above the Akashi Strait, with views straight down to the swirling tides. Inside there's a museum-style exhibit on the bridge's construction, the round 'Marine Lounge' lounge area, and a small cafe with bridge views. Adult entry is 300 yen on weekdays and 350 yen on weekends and holidays. Photography is allowed.

### When is the best time to visit the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge?

Sunset and after dark are the best times, when colorful LED illumination patterns change seasonally and on holidays. Daytime is best for the Maiko Marine Promenade glass-floor experience and clear views over the strait to Awaji Island. Cherry blossoms bloom in Maiko Park in early April. The bridge is closed to pedestrians (except the Promenade) but visible from many angles in the surrounding parks.

### Can I visit Awaji Island from the bridge?

Pedestrians cannot cross the bridge itself, but you can reach Awaji Island via the high-speed Jenova ferry from Akashi (13 minutes), or by Honshi-Awaji Bus from Maiko, Sannomiya, or Shin-Kobe stations across the bridge. Many travelers combine the Maiko Marine Promenade with a half-day on Awaji for sea-view drives, the Hello Kitty Smile attraction, and Awaji onion specialties.

---
Source: Akashi Kaikyo Bridge — Japan Voyage