The Kojima-Sakaide Route,popularly known as the Seto Ohasi Bridge 瀬戸大橋, was completed in 1988. It is the world's longest two-tiwered bridge system, stretching 13.1km from Kojima to Sakaide, connecting the 5 islands in between.
The 11 bridges in the system include 3 suspension bridges, 2 twin cable-stayed, 1 truss and 5 viaducts. The upper level accommodates a motor expressway of four lanes, and the lower contains Japan Railway's system for a dual track ordinary line at present and for a dual track superexpress line in the future.
The first person to air the idea of the Seto Ohashi Bridge was Okubo Jinnojo 大久保じんのじょう(1849-1891), a Kagawa native, who at that time was constructing the first Shikoku Roads to link all the prefectures on congratulatory speech he made as a member of the Prefectural Parliament at the opening ceremony of the first railroad in Sikoku between Marugame and Kotohira .
Exactly a century later, the Bridge came into being after dacades of planning and ten years of construction,13 million workers involved (with the loss of 17 lives), and costing 1,190,000 million yen.
Surprisingly,Jinnojo had also flretold man's traveling to the moon in his favorite drinking song of his own making, which went as follws:
I'll tell you, dear, don't laugh at me, a hundred years from now, I'll be seeing you flying to and from the moon in a space ship. Its port, let me tell you, dear, will be that mountaintop over there !
One of the best points to view the Bridge is Yosima Island 与島 ①, a central pier of the Bridge. It also serves as a sightseeing outpost for the Sikoku and Inland Sea Districts, providing 2 parking areas for those who like to enjoy bride-viewing, seafood and shopping.
◎To yoshima: 25 minutes from JR Sakaide by bus.
Another is a rotating tower 132 m tall at the Seto Ohasi Memorial Park ② 瀬戸大橋記念公園 at the foot of the Bridge in Sakaide. The Memorial Hall provides all kinds of information on the Bridge and its construction, while the park itself applies modern art to stone and water.
Admission to the tower : \800.
Admission to the Hall : \510.
◎To the Seto Ohasi Memorial Park : 10 minutes from JR Sakaide by shuttle bus (free of charge).
The Gold Tower ③ ゴールドタワー near JR Utazu Station offers a marvelous view , too. The 144 m tower made of half - mirror glass is the tallest of its kind in Japan, housing the Sky Lounge, restaurants, stores and a World Toilet Museum.
Open daily. Admission to the tower : \ 800 /\ 1000 (Toilet Museum included).
◎ To Gold Tower : 8 minutes' walk from JR Utuzu.
*Bridge-viewing cruises are available from Keihan Fisherman's Wharf 京阪フィッシャーマンズワーフ on Yoshima ①, Memorial Park ② and Sakaide Port ④.(\1,000-1,500)