Which bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Japan and links Honshu with Awaji Island?

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is Japan’s longest suspension bridge and links the island of Honshu with Awaji Island.

It crosses the Akashi Strait between Kobe and Awaji. The bridge opened in 1998 as part of the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway. Its central span measures 1,991 metres, making it the longest suspension-bridge span in the world when it opened. The bridge’s total length is 3,911 metres.

The structure was designed to withstand severe winds, strong currents and earthquakes. During construction, the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake shifted the main towers slightly farther apart, so the final design was adjusted before the bridge opened. The bridge uses two main cables supported by tall towers and carries six lanes of road traffic.

Its English name is commonly rendered Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, while “Akashi Kaikyō” reflects the Japanese name for the strait. The bridge is sometimes confused with the Seto Ohashi bridges, another major Japanese crossing, but those connect Honshu and Shikoku.