Rainbow Bridge, Suspension bridge in Tokyo Bay, Japan
Rainbow Bridge is a double-decker suspension bridge linking Shibaura Pier on the mainland to the Odaiba waterfront across northern Tokyo Bay. Its two white steel towers rise 126 meters, and the deck is a steel truss with diagonal bracing. The upper deck carries the Shuto Expressway's Daiba Route; the lower deck holds the Yurikamome line between two roadways, with walkways on the outer edges.
Construction began in 1987 and the bridge opened on 26 August 1993, built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries to link the developing Tokyo waterfront subcenter with the existing city center and ease congestion on routes from Chiba and Kanagawa. Its main span had to clear the First Navigation Channel by at least 50 m while staying under 150 m above Tokyo Bay mean sea level because of Haneda Airport height limits.
The name comes from the nighttime lights that make the structure glow in different colors, suggesting a rainbow. The pedestrian paths on the lower level allow visitors to cross the bay on foot while traffic passes overhead.
The pedestrian areas on the lower level open during daytime and offer views of the bay and the city. Crossing on foot takes around half an hour and may close during strong winds.
The lighting system runs on solar power and makes the bridge glow in three colors every evening. The color combination was chosen to be visible from the water while avoiding excessive brightening of the night sky.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,766 contributors worldwide.
