2000: The Debut of a “Bridge of Dreams” that Has Become Both a Vital Link and Popular Tourist Attraction

November 3, 2000

In the Japanese region of Chūgoku, a vehicular bridge spanning the Amagaseto Strait was opened to traffic. This 5,840-foot (1,780-meter)-long structure connects the small island of Tsunoshima with Honshu (Japan’s largest and most populous island). The Tsunoshima Bridge is second only to the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, which is located in the Kansai region on Honshu, as the longest bridge in Japan.

Prior to the inauguration of the Tsunoshima Bridge, the key transportation link between Tsunoshima and Honshu was a ferry that made daily round-trips. This ferry service was frequently prone to cancellations and delays, however. Ultimately, those disruptions resulted in about 100 Tsunoshima residents forming a group in 1983 to advocate for a bridge as the regular means for getting to and from Honshu. Construction on that bridge finally began in 1993.

One of the members of the group that helped make the Tsunoshima Bridge a reality was Manabu Furuno. “For the islanders, this is a long-awaited ‘bridge of dreams,’” noted Furuno. “We were moved beyond words to find a way to live that would allow [us] to freely travel back and forth to the mainland.”

Along with providing a more reliable year-round route for Tsunoshima residents traveling across the Amagaseto Strait, the bridge has significantly boosted that island’s overall tourist industry. The Tsunoshima Bridge itself, as a matter of fact, has become a highly popular destination for those visiting that part of Japan. One reason for this is that the bridge, which earned an excellence award from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers in 2003, has achieved widespread renown for its distinctive curved shape. In addition, the Tsunoshima Bridge offers tough-to-beat panoramic views of the surrounding area.

Photo Credit: Raita Futo (https://www.flickr.com/people/128275472@N07) — licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

For more information on the Tsunoshima Bridge, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunoshima_Bridge