Third Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge, Suspension bridge in Imabari, Japan
The Third Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing the Kurushima Strait in Ehime Prefecture, with towers rising 184 m and a total length of 1,570 m (about 5,150 ft). It carries road traffic as well as a separate lane for cyclists and pedestrians along its full span.
The bridge was completed in 1999 as part of the Shimanami Kaido expressway linking Honshu and Shikoku across the Seto Inland Sea. Before it opened, ferries were the only way to cross this stretch of water between the islands.
The name of this crossing refers directly to the strait below, linking the structure to the water it spans. Cyclists and walkers use a dedicated path separated from road traffic, moving at a slower pace that lets them take in the sea around them.
Vehicles pay a toll to cross, while walkers and cyclists can use the bridge at no cost. Wind in the strait can pick up without much warning, so it is worth checking the forecast before heading out on foot or by bike.
This bridge forms part of the only series of three consecutive suspension bridges in the world, arranged one after another across a chain of small islands. Seen from above, the three spans follow the curve of the islands in a way that looks unlike any other bridge crossing.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
