# Kokonoe Yume Suspension Bridge

> A pedestrian-only suspension bridge 173 meters above the Naruko River gorge and 390 meters long, opened in 2006. It is still the tallest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan, and from the middle you look straight up the valley at the Shindo-no-taki falls. The deck is 1.5 meters wide and made of open metal grating, so you can see down through it.

- Prefecture: Oita
- Type: Landmark
- Address: Kokonoe, Oita, Japan
- Official site: https://www.yumeooturihashi.com/

The bridge hangs 173 meters above the bottom of the Naruko River gorge, at 777 meters above sea level, and runs 390 meters between two towers. When it opened on October 30, 2006, it was the longest and tallest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan. It has since lost the length record, but no pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan is higher. The deck is only 1.5 meters wide, with handrails 1.4 meters high, and the floor is open steel grating: you see the river through the gaps the whole way across. On a breezy day it moves under your feet. The reason most people come is the view upstream: the Shindo-no-taki falls, a pair made up of the 83-meter Odaki, one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls, and the 93-meter Medaki. Coming from the Nakamura side, they are on your right, and staff ask everyone to keep left so people turning to look do not collide. Umbrellas, running, pets and drones are not allowed on the bridge. Entry is 500 yen for junior high school age and up and 200 yen for elementary school children. The bridge is open every day from 8:30 to 17:00 (to 18:00 from July to October), but it shuts for sustained winds of 15 m/s or more, thick fog, heavy rain or heavy snow advisories and earthquakes of intensity 4 or more, and entry stops when more than 800 people are on it. If the crossing itself is too much, the viewing area by the gate shows the whole span.

## FAQ

### How high is the Kokonoe Yume Suspension Bridge, and is it scary to cross?

The deck is 173 meters above the gorge floor and 390 meters long. The floor is open metal grating, so you can see straight down, and the bridge moves a little in the wind. The handrails are 1.4 meters high. If you would rather not cross, the viewing area inside the gate shows the whole bridge.

### When does the bridge close?

There are no regular closing days. It is open 8:30 to 17:00 (to 18:00 from July to October), with tickets sold until 30 minutes before closing. It shuts for sustained winds of 15 m/s or more, fog too thick to see people on the bridge, heavy rain or heavy snow advisories, frequent lightning, and earthquakes of intensity 4 or more until it has been inspected. Entry also stops while more than 800 people are on the bridge.

### Can I get to the bridge without a car?

Yes, but plan around the bus. Take the JR Kyudai Line to Bungo-Nakamura, then Kokonoe town's community bus to Otsurihashi Nakamura-guchi, about 22 minutes for 500 yen. There are only a few buses a day, and just two from the station on Sundays and holidays on the May 2025 timetable, so check the current one. A taxi from the station takes roughly 25 minutes.

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Source: Kokonoe Yume Suspension Bridge — Japan Voyage