Ōshiba Bridge, Cable-stayed bridge in Higashihiroshima, Japan
Ōshiba Bridge is a cable-stayed structure spanning roughly 470 meters across the Seto Inland Sea and connecting mainland Honshu to Ōshiba Island. Its design uses a double-harp steel cable system that carries traffic across the water.
The bridge was completed in 1997 and represented an important milestone in Japanese bridge engineering. Its construction enabled a permanent land link to the island, which had previously been accessible only by boat.
The bridge links visitors to Ōshiba Island, where seasonal oyster houses offer fresh seafood harvested from the surrounding Seto Inland Sea. This tradition shapes the local experience and reflects how the island's community depends on its maritime resources.
You can reach the bridge by bus from JR Akitsu Station, followed by a short walk to the structure. The best time to visit is in good weather, when views across the water are clearest.
The bridge features asymmetric towers that are shorter on the mainland side than on the island side. This unusual design allows adequate clearance for ships without making the mainland-anchored side unnecessarily tall.
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