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The Great Seto Bridge, one of the world's largest road and rail bridges, spans the beautiful Seto Inland Sea, connecting Honshu and Shikoku with six different types of bridges, including suspension bridges and truss bridges. This time, a Gold-Guide guide will take you to see the incredible scenery that combines natural beauty and functional beauty!
Gold-Guide is a guide matching platform operated by JR West Communications Co., Ltd., which matches tourists visiting Japan with highly skilled interpreter guides and offers guided tours. In this article, Gold-Guide, which has a track record of guiding tours in various areas of Japan, will introduce the beautiful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea from the perspective of the Great Seto Bridge.
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The Great Seto Bridge is a massive 13.1 kilometers (8.1 miles) road and rail bridge that connects the Kojima area of Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, on Honshu, and Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture, on Shikoku. Since its opening in 1988, it has become a symbol of Japan's transportation infrastructure, as the first bridge to connect Honshu and Shikoku directly. Travel between Honshu and Shikoku, which was previously mainly by boat, has become dramatically more convenient, significantly contributing to the development of the economy and tourism.
The bridge section of the Great Seto Bridge alone is 9,368 meters (5.8 miles) long. Within its entire length, six different types of bridges, including suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges, and truss bridges, are connected. The complex bridge design of these bridges is technically advanced, and visitors are impressed by their overwhelming power and beauty. The Great Seto Bridge also has a two-layer structure, with the Setouchi Chuo Expressway, a highway exclusively for vehicles, running on the upper layer, and the JR Setouchi Ohashi Line railway running on the lower layer. This unique two-layer structure efficiently supports both land and rail traffic. Its outstanding structural beauty and enormous scale have earned it international acclaim as one of the world's largest road and rail bridges, and it can be said to be a symbol of Japan's advanced bridge technology.
From Okayama: Take the Setouchi Chuo Expressway and exit at Kojima IC and head towards Sakaide Kita IC.
From Kagawa: Take the Takamatsu Expressway to Sakaide IC.
*Yoshima Parking Area (PA) along the way is located almost in the center of the bridge and is a popular scenic spot and rest area.
If you take the JR Setouchi Ohashi Line (Marine Liner Rapid), it takes about an hour from Okayama Station to Takamatsu Station.
Along the way, you can enjoy a scenic section where you travel over a bridge. The view of the Seto Inland Sea from here is breathtakingly beautiful.
One of the great attractions of the Great Seto Bridge is not only its grand scale and beautiful structure, but also the spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea that you can see from the bridge. There are many spots around the bridge where you can enjoy the beautiful views that attract many visitors. Here, we will introduce three recommended spots with magnificent views that you should not miss when visiting the Great Seto Bridge. The view of the Seto Great Bridge from each location is different, and you can enjoy its grandeur and the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea from various angles.
The Mt. Washu Observatory is a popular spot in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, and is renowned for offering a panoramic view of the Great Seto Bridge and the Seto Inland Sea. Located at the top of Mt. Washu, which is 133 meters (436 feet) above sea level, you can enjoy the outstanding scenery of the many islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea and the majestic Seto Bridge beyond them. Especially at dusk, the sunset paints the Seto Bridge a golden hue, creating a breathtakingly beautiful sight. You can appreciate the different expressions of the sea with each season, as well as the fantastic view of the Seto Bridge, which is illuminated at night and is loved by many photography enthusiasts and tourists. There are also promenades and nature trails around the observation deck, allowing you to spend a relaxing time. When visiting the Great Seto Bridge, be sure to take in the magnificent scenery and natural beauty from the Mt. Washu Observatory.
If you are heading to the bridge from Okayama, Honshu, you should climb Mt. Washu just before the bridge.
It takes 10 minutes by car from JR Kojima Station to reach the Mr. Washu Second Observatory area. It is also about 10 minutes from Kojima IC.
You can also take a bus from Kojima Station.
The Mt. Washu Second Observation Deck is located at an altitude of 80m and has a free parking lot that can accommodate 400 cars.
After climbing about 100 steps, you will arrive at the observation deck and rest house.
If you have small children or older adults who find it difficult to climb the stairs, you can use the priority parking lot near the observation deck.
At the rest house, you can dine while looking out at the beautiful Great Seto Bridge spanning the Seto Inland Sea, and the beautiful night view makes it a popular spot.
If you have time and want to enjoy the natural beauty of the Seto Inland Sea even more, you can walk from there to the First Observation Deck. The Nature Study Trail splits into two paths along the way, but either way, you'll reach the Washuzan Visitor Center in about 10 minutes. You will find name plates attached to the main trees on the trail so that you can look them up by scanning the QR code.
The summit is 133 meters or 436 feet above sea level. There are three ancient tombs on Mt. Washu, which are said to be horizontally-entered circular tombs dating back 1,300 to 1,500 years ago. Beyond that is the scenic spot "Azumaya," from which you can see the bridge piers of the Great Seto Bridge directly ahead. The Great Seto Bridge is a sister bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Washuzandai Parking Lot or Bus Stop = Second Observation Deck (Rest House) = Nature Study Trail = Visitor Center = Summit = Group of Burial Mounds = Pavilion (Direct view of the Great Seto Bridge) = Rest House = Washuzandai Parking Lot or Bus Stop
If you are crossing the Great Seto Bridge by car, be sure to stop by Yoshima PA, located almost in the middle of the bridge.
A 20-minute bus ride from JR Sakaide Station on the Shikoku side (5 buses per day) will take you to the Yoshima PA. Please note that the buses only return to JR Sakaide Station and the service is not frequent. Please ensure you check beforehand.
Yoshima PA is located on Yoshima Island on the Setouchi Chuo Expressway, and is a spot where you can enjoy the spectacular view of the Great Seto Bridge up close, with views of the twin suspension bridges, the Kita-Bisan Great Seto Bridge, and the Minami-Bisan Great Seto Bridge. At the observation deck at Yoshima PA, you find a timetable for JR Setouchi Ohashi Line to check the trains passing by, making it worth a look. The model of the cables that suspend the bridge stands out as an art object and is perfect for taking photos.
Starting from Yoshima PA, you can have a thrilling experience climbing to the top of the Kita Bisan Seto Bridge.
This is an impressive experience that offers a spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea, but reservations are required and participants must be junior high school students or older . You cannot use the restroom during the experience, so be sure to go before the start of the tour.
We gather in front of the bridge abutment, wearing the provided helmets, and take the elevator up to the maintenance road level. My legs are already shaking. People who work in places like this are truly amazing! On the way, you may even see a train crossing the Great Seto Bridge. You'll find yourself waving back! We walk silently through the narrow passage inside the tower and reach the top. A panoramic view 175m (574 feet) above sea level. You can see Honshu and Shikoku across, and the Shiwaku Islands, a collection of 28 islands of various sizes, lying between them. You can also get a real sense of the bridge's length, which is 13.1 kilometers (8.1 miles).
At Yoshima PA, you can find udon noodles, homemade gelato, Setouchi lemon squash, as well as plenty of souvenirs made with local ingredients.
There are also plenty of rest facilities including toilets.
The Great Seto Bridge Memorial Park is a popular spot where you can enjoy the magnificent view of the Seto Inland Sea and the Great Seto Bridge. Enjoy the functional beauty of the Great Seto Bridge, set against the natural beauty of the Seto Inland Sea, along with the architectural beauty and artistic objects scattered throughout the park. There are plenty of photo spots that will make you stop and take photos, such as the Dodama Lion or Head Lion created by Nagare Masayuki, and the heart-shaped monument. Time flies by in this park, nicknamed "Art Port Seto Ohashi (Great Bridge)." The park also features an observation deck and walking paths, where you can take a stroll and enjoy the natural beauty of the four seasons. At dusk, the fantastic scenery created by the bridge and the sea captivates visitors.
To access by car, take the Great Seto Bridge from Sakaide IC. If you are traveling by train, take a bus or taxi from JR Sakaide Station.
Located in a prime location with a view of the Great Seto Bridge, the Great Seto Bridge Memorial Park features a memorial hall where you can learn about the history of the bridge's construction and its structure, as well as fountains in the shape of suspension bridges and cable-stayed bridges, a lawn plaza, and a children's playground.
Kaii Higashiyama, a master of landscape painting, proposed using light gray for the bridge. At the museum, you can enjoy the Great Seto Bridge as if it were a painting, along with his works. The museum was designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, who has worked on many art museums in Japan and won the top prize in the expansion and renovation competition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
The view of the Great Seto Bridge from a cruise ship is also excellent. Especially on weekends and holidays, the bridge is beautifully lit up. If you want to enjoy the romantic night view, we recommend taking a cruise ship.
If you want to make wonderful memories and build a bridge to someone's heart, be sure to visit the Great Seto Bridge.
Whether you are interested in bridge structure and engineering, love art, or simply want to relax in nature, our Gold-Guides will take you on a tour that suits your interests.
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