Kushima Bridge, Transportation bridge in Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Kushima Bridge is a road and cycling bridge in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, connecting Oshima Island to the mainland as part of the Shimanami Kaidō route. It crosses a stretch of the Seto Inland Sea and features tall white pylons supporting the suspended deck.
The bridge was built as part of the Nishiseto Expressway project, which was planned in the 1970s to link the islands of the Seto Inland Sea to the mainland. It opened in 1999 along with the rest of the Shimanami Kaidō route.
Kushima Bridge sits along the Shimanami Kaidō, a route that draws cyclists from across Japan and beyond. Dedicated cycling lanes run along the bridge, separated from car traffic, making the crossing a calm and accessible experience for riders of all levels.
The bridge can be crossed by car or bicycle, with the cycling path accessed via a separate ramp at each end. Wind off the sea can be strong on the deck, so checking conditions before setting out is a good idea, especially for cyclists.
Although the Shimanami Kaidō is now known as a cycling route, including bicycles in the original bridge designs was not standard practice in Japan at the time. The dedicated ramps and lanes were engineered from the start, making this one of the first expressway bridges in the country built with cyclists in mind.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
