Eshima Ohashi Bridge

Eshima Ohashi Bridge is a roadway crossing Lake Nakaumi that links Matsue in Shimane Prefecture with Sakaiminato in Tottori. The structure extends about 1.7 kilometers (roughly 1.1 miles) and stands 44 meters (around 144 feet) high to allow ship traffic beneath.

Between 1997 and 2004, engineers built this structure as a solution for traffic between two prefectures. Planners chose this height to avoid a drawbridge and keep road flow constant.

Its name combines Eshima-chō and Sakaiminato, while commuters and freight trucks cross daily between the two prefectures. Drivers experience the climb as much gentler than photographs suggest, since the slope reaches only about six percent.

Visitors can observe the surroundings from viewing points at either end, while the ascent in each direction takes about two minutes to complete. Binoculars are available to catch sight of the lake and Mount Daisen when weather conditions are clear.

Photographers shooting from low angles create the optical illusion of an extremely steep slope that made this structure famous on social media. This perspective distorts the actual gradient and makes the roadway appear nearly vertical, though drivers barely notice any challenge.

Official opening: October 16, 2004

GPS coordinates: 35.51917,133.20000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 21:47