KOBE - Visitors can climb to the top of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, about 300 meters above the sea, for sweeping 360-degree views of the Akashi Strait, Kobe, Awaji Island and, in clear weather, as far as Osaka.
The normally restricted tower top covers about 140 square meters and offers a perspective available only from one of the world's largest suspension bridges. Even under cloudy skies on September 11, the Kobe side and surrounding coastline remained clearly visible.
The distance between the bridge's two main towers is 1,991 meters, making it the world's second-longest suspension bridge span. It held the world record until four years ago, when a bridge in Turkey took the top position.
The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Tower Top Experience Bridge World tour allows members of the public to visit the summit. Participants first walk about one kilometer, taking roughly 15 minutes, along a maintenance passage beneath the expressway used by vehicles.
Parts of the passage have grated flooring that allows visitors to look directly down at the sea below.
An elevator then carries participants upward for about 90 seconds to the 98th level, from where they reach the bridge's tower top at around 300 meters above sea level.
The tour also provides close-up views of features that are difficult to see from the ground, including lighting equipment used to illuminate the bridge after sunset. The lights remain on until 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends and public holidays.
Visitors can also see the bridge's massive main cables at close range. Each cable is about 1.1 meters in diameter and contains 36,830 high-strength steel wires bundled together to support the structure.
The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Tower Top Experience Bridge World tour is being held through November 29 this year, with further details available through the tour's official website.
Source: YOMIURI
