Akashi Kaikyo Bridge One of the longest bridges in the world, it plays an important role in daily transportation as well as in business. It is the longest and strongest suspension bridge in the world and is also known as Pearl Bridge. In fact, it is one of the most prominent bridges with magnificent architecture and charismatic view in addition to being the key link of the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Project, which created three bridges connecting Shikoku and Honshu islands in the Inland Sea of Japan. The primary purpose of building this bridge was to connect Kobe with Iwaya. The first is a city in the Honshu mainland of Japan while the second is on Awaji Island, an island in Hyogo Prefecture in Japan.
About Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
The world is filled with countless monuments, beaches, mountain ranges, various types of bridges and other phenomenal structures. The six-lane Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is one of the major landmarks that not only impresses the visitors but also carries an important motto. The construction of the bridge faced many challenges which tested not only the expertise of the engineers but also the patience of the government. This bridge has stood against the odds and can be declared the champion of all bridges ever built in human history. Let us tell you some facts about the bridge which will definitely tell you about this magnificent bridge built in 1998.
History of Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
The construction of this grand bridge was not completed in a moment. Rather, there is a strong history associated with it. Before this bridge was built, the route across the Akashi Strait was used to transport passengers to Japan. Although the strait between Awaji and Honshu islands was one of the most uninterrupted lines of connectivity between the two islands of Japan, it experienced severe typhoons. In 1955, a deadly storm sank two boats, killing 168 people. This forced the Japanese government to take a tough decision. Initially, the plan was to develop a mixed bridge with railway and road networks. However, construction, which began in April 1988, was limited to a 6-lane road network only. It took more than 100 contractors a decade to complete the construction and it was opened to traffic on April 5, 1998 by Crown Prince Naruhito, his wife Princess Masako, and Construction Minister Tsutomu Kawara.
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Quick Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Facts
Now that you know about the history of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, it’s time to learn some quick facts:
- Approximately 2 million workers were used over a period of 10 years to complete the construction of the bridge.
- The construction work involved 1.4 million cubic meters of concrete and 180,000 tonnes of steel.
- It is the most powerful bridge ever built as the site is prone to natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes.
- At times, the wind speed even reaches up to 290 kmph, which can be devastating to handle.
- This is the longest and most expensive bridge built in the world. The construction was completed after facing many challenges as Japan is located in the Ring of Fire which is susceptible to periodic volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
- The extensive length of cables used in the construction of the suspension bridge is more than 300,000 kilometers, more than any other bridge.
- This bridge is extremely strong and can withstand sea storms as well as earthquakes. In 1995, a strong earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck Kobe. Interestingly, the bridge was under construction when an earthquake struck the country. However, there was no damage to the bridge.
- The total capital spent on the construction of the bridge is approximately $4.3 billion, which has been continuously serving the people of the country since 1998. Funding was supported by the Honshu Shikoku Bridge Authority, the bridge’s primary contractor.
- The bridge is used by more than 25,000 cars every day.
- The height of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is approximately 928 feet or 282.8 meters (pylon height) while the truss width is 35 meters.
- It is situated 280 meters above sea level.
- Suspension bridges in Japan are known for their amazing length and have attracted the attention of tourists from all over the world. The length of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is approximately 3,911 meters.
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Places to Visit around Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
Apart from being an important road route for communication, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Tour is also very famous. Some of the major places to visit around Akashi Kaikyo Bridge are:
1. Maiko Beach Resort
It is a circuit-style promenade built on the Kobe side of the bridge. It is an observation facility offered to tourists to experience the excellence of the world’s longest and strongest bridge. It is located at 2051 Higashimaikocho, Tarumi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 655-0047, Japan. Visiting hours are 0900 hrs to 1800 hrs daily. During Golden Week and summer holidays, it is open until 1900 hrs. Also, entry is restricted 30 minutes before closing time. The entrance fee is 250 yen which increases to 300 yen on weekends and national holidays.
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2. Maiko Park
It is the first prefectural urban park built to enjoy exotic temperatures and a suspension bridge. It is located at 2051 Higashimaikocho, Tarumi-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo-ken 655-0047. The entrance fee varies from 100 yen to 300 yen depending on the age of the visitor and the day of visit. By local trains, if you travel from Sannomiya Station, the journey time is 25 minutes and the ticket will cost 300 yen. You can also travel via the Sanyo Railway Main Line from Maiko-Koen Station.
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3. Bridge Exhibition Center
It is an exhibition hall that shows the history, grandeur and importance of the suspension bridge. This is an important place to visit that will give you a chance to connect with the intricate architecture and brilliant engineering of the bridge. It has a 3-D theater that will show 3-D videos to give you a pictorial representation of the construction work. It is located at 4-114 Higashimaiko-cho Tarumi-ku in Kobe. Visiting hours are 09.15 to 17.00 daily, with some seasonal exceptions. Entry is restricted to 30 minutes before closing time and the entrance fee is 310 yen.
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This magnificent bridge is located at Higashimaikocho, Tarumi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 655-0047, Japan. Enjoy the bridge by traveling over the bridge by car or from a park or promenade. You can access the bridge from Maiko Station on the JR Sanyo Line. Also known as the Pearl Bridge, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is a center of attraction for many tourists and locals who like to spend time admiring the architecture gifted to the people by the Government of Japan. Don’t miss this beautiful monument on your trip to Japan.
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