Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge

Japan’s Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge is another very well known landmark that was built for practical purposes in the late 20th century. It is located in the city of Kobe on the island of Honshu and sits over the famous Akashi Strait, which separates Kobe from Awaji Island. It is the second-longest suspension bridge in the world and the longest in the nation of Japan by thousands of feet.

The bridge was initially designed by Satoshi Kashima in the 1980’s and construction on the project began in 1988. Significant alterations would have to be made following the Great Hanshin earthquake that took place in January of 1995 as the two main towers that were designed to maintain the suspension bridge were moved enough that the central span had to be extended a full meter.

In 1998, the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge was completed and inaugurated. Up until the 1915 anakkale Bridge in Turkey opened to traffic in 2022, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge has pylons that are 928 feet tall and measures an astounding 6,532 feet in length. Since it was constructed, it has grown to be a popular destination for travelers to Japan, an island nation, with an estimated 23,000 people using it every day.

Location: Hyogo 655-0047, Japan

Architect: Satoshi Kashima