Kurushima Strait Observatory

Kurushima Strait Observatory is an observation facility and museum in Imabari with multiple viewing platforms overlooking the narrow waterways where ships navigate through the Seto Inland Sea. The building offers different levels and viewing areas designed to show how vessel traffic moves through these busy channels.

The facility was built as part of the Shimanami Kaido project in recent decades, which connected Honshu and Shikoku islands through a network of bridges. This infrastructure transformed how people and goods moved through the region's waterways.

The site displays maritime heritage through exhibits on traditional fishing and navigation techniques used in these waters. You can learn about how the strait has shaped daily life and work for generations of people living in nearby communities.

The viewing platforms are open daily and provide clear sightlines to watch activity in the strait. Parking is available for both cars and bicycles, making it easy to reach and explore the site along with nearby attractions.

The viewing deck looks directly at the three suspension bridges of Kurushima Kaikyo that stretch across multiple islands in the strait. This bridge arrangement is one of the longest continuous suspension bridge chains in the world.

Location: Imabari

Website: https://gogo-shimanami.jp

GPS coordinates: 34.11402,132.97783

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:42