Discover Eshima Ohashi Bridge – Japan’s Most Thrilling Bridge

The Japanese call the Eshima Ohashi Bridge by many names. For some, it’s the “car rollercoaster” bridge with a thrilling and terrifying ride. To others, it is “the bridge to the sky.” Most drivers call it betabumi-zaka, or the pedal-to-the-metal bridge.

From the right angle, the bridge seems terrifyingly steep, rising about 147 feet (45 meters) and dropping suddenly into the void. But, despite its morbid reputation and the terrifying videos circulated online, the Eshima Ohashi Bridge is just a regular, oversized concrete bridge.

Those who think the bridge rises at a near-vertical incline have been misguided by the many photos and videos of the bridge scattered online. It’s easier to understand once you see and experience the bridge yourself, but let’s take a virtual tour now.

Facts of the Eshima Ohashi Bridge

It’s undisputed that the Eshima Ohashi Bridge is the third-largest rigid-frame bridge in the world and the biggest in Japan. It spans over Lake Nakaumi to connect Matsue in Shimane Prefecture and Sakaiminato in Tottori Prefecture. 

The bridge may seem less impressive from the numbers alone. It’s a continuous, rigid-frame concrete structure with a total length of 1.1 miles (1.7 km), a width of 37 ft (11.3 m), and 820 ft (250 m) across its widest span. 

Plenty of bridges are longer. Currently, the longest bridge in the world is the 102-mile Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge that connects Shanghai and Nanjing in China. The Eshima Ohashi isn’t even the highest; that honor goes to the Millau Viaduct in France, which towers 336.4 meters (1,104 ft) from top to bottom across the Tarn River gorge.

History of the Eshima Ohashi Bridge

Before the Eshima Ohashi Bridge was built, a drawbridge between the cities of Shimane and Sakaiminato facilitated traffic flow. Sakaiminato is a seaport with a prosperous seafood processing industry and is mainly known for tuna and crabs. As one of Japan’s top seaports, it caters to numerous vehicles and ships.

The drawbridge was inconvenient to vehicles and ships alike since traffic was often stopped for nearly 10 minutes to let ships pass. Only 4,000 vehicles could cross the bridge in a day, often causing massive delays and stifling movement in and out of the cities.

It became clear that a drawbridge was not a feasible or enduring option for the place. Japanese engineers designed and built the Eshima Ohashi Bridge between 1997 and 2004, making it tall enough that ships could navigate beneath its vertical midpoint.

The lake over which the bridge spans is also a vital natural habitat, so a road was out of the question. Lake Nakaumi hosts 200+ species of migratory birds, such as cranes, geese, and Tundra swans, some of which come from as far away as Siberia.

Thus, the Eshima Ohashi Bridge was built long and high out of necessity. The concrete monolith may not be as beautiful as some of these covered bridges, but it’s an architectural and engineering marvel in its own right.

Is the Eshima Ohashi Bridge Really That Steep?

Clever photographers depict the Eshima Ohashi Bridge rising at almost 450 feet into the sky, giving it the terrifying look of a treacherous precipice over which vehicles disappear. This is an optical illusion at best because the bridge is not as steep and dangerous as people make it to be.

The Eshima Ohashi’s 6.1% incline means the bridge rises 6.1 feet for every 100 feet traveled horizontally. That’s the same gradient as the steepest U.S. interstate ramps, which have a 3% to 6% gradient. Bridges tend to be flat, but it’s not insane for one to have a 6.1% incline.

That being said, the visual impact and experience of climbing Eshima Ohashi Bridge can be intimidating or even terrifying. Looking at it while standing at the foot, the bridge rises and curves ahead of you like a mountain road, then the top falls into oblivion. People with a phobia of bridges (gephyrophobia) or heights (acrophobia) may find the bridge overwhelming.

The view is breathtaking once you get to the top of the bridge. You can see the lake, surrounded by cityscapes and green hills, then lift your eyes to the horizon towards Mount Daisen. Then the road drops away gradually as you descend into Tottori.

Steepest Bridge, Not Steepest Road

Compared to Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, the Eshima Ohashi Bridge is child’s play. Baldwin Street holds the title of the steepest street in the world and boasts a gradient of 34.8% or a rise of 1 foot for every 2.86 feet of horizontal travel. 

The little winding street is so steep that cars can slide down with all tires locked. Small vehicles may not do the climb if they’re weighed down or if the driver is inexperienced, and there have been some incidents of cars dying on the way up. Such incidents have no chance of occurring on the Eshima Ohashi Bridge.

What Is it Like to Drive on the Eshima Ohashi Bridge?

The blogs and videos that make it seem like the Eshima Ohashi Bridge rises vertically need to be more accurate. It’s true that the incline is quite steep and will require some hard acceleration, and the descent demands control and good brakes, but it’s not as if you will be fighting for your life every step of the way.

Check out Google Streetview photos to get a real sense of what the bridge looks like. Looking from the Shimane side, the bridge rises somewhat abruptly and curves gracefully across the middle before sloping off and curving into Sakaiminato.

What may be terrifying is the sheer number of large trucks and buses that zip past without a care. Unlike the previous drawbridge, the Eshima Ohashi Bridge accommodates trucks heavier than 14 tons. The bridge has two lanes and driving across for the first time is challenging if you are not confident.

Truthfully, it’s unsettling to have a cement truck or large city bus trailing you as you descend the bridge. The speed limit on the bridge is 40 km/h, and there’s usually a good amount of traffic during the day. But, if you concentrate on your driving, it’s a pleasant experience.

The Bridge Is Disconcerting, Not Frightening

When climbing the bridge, you have to keep your eyes ahead and on your mirrors. You only notice the rise ahead, the vehicles around you, and the bridge parapet. You’ll have to pay attention to your engine to ensure you’ve got the gear and acceleration you need to complete the ascent. 

With the road rising ahead, crossing the bridge this way the first few times is disconcerting. It feels like driving into the sky, especially when the narrow vista suddenly opens into a vast panorama at the top, with the sea and landscape spread out beyond and the road stretching below.

This transition from impossibly steep and narrow to an open summit, then a quick descent, gives the Eshima Ohashi Bridge its nickname “car rollercoaster.” Those who have done the drive agree it feels like a theme park ride and leaves a pit in the bell.

Cycling and Running the “Rollercoaster” Bridge

The Eshima Ohashi Bridge is also open to cyclists and pedestrians. Although there’s a dedicated pedestrian lane, cyclists must keep to a narrow strip beside the main highway.

It’s easy to cycle up the bridge with a decent bicycle, although it will give you a good burn in your legs. The most significant danger is the vehicles that speed past you just a few inches away, especially the trucks. You’ll have to be careful not to stray outside the cyclist’s path.

The View is Worth the Effort

Once at the top, there’s an observation deck where you can take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous view and catch your breath. Here, a little more space allows cyclists and pedestrians to relax safely before taking on the thrilling descent.

If you decide to cycle on the “rollercoaster bridge,” make sure you have good brakes to control your speed on the way down. The bridge is relatively straight and smooth, so you can pick up some pace on the way down.

It takes about five minutes to cycle uphill, but even fewer to whoosh down to the bottom. If you’re on foot, a brisk run across the bridge will give you a good challenge. The incline will knock the breath out of any, except maybe the hard-core runners, but the view is spectacular.

If you’re determined and in good shape, you can get across the bridge and back in less than 15 minutes, just like this guy.

How to Get to the Eshima Ohashi Bridge

If you visit the Yonago-Sakaiminato area of Japan, be sure to visit the Eshima Ohashi Bridge. Civil infrastructure may not be at the top of your to-do list, but you may never see another bridge like this one. Besides, there’s plenty more to do in the area, so you can bundle your trip.

You can experience the bridge from any side, but visitors will find it easier to come from Sakaiminato Station. From there, the bridge is only 2 km away, a 10-minute drive or a 30-minute walk.

If you’re driving from the Yonago expressway, get off at the Yonago IC, and it’s a 40-minute drive from there by car. It’s also a mere 10-minute drive from the Miho-Yonago Airport. The bridge is usually busy during the day, especially when tourists are around.

Here’s a pro tip: access the bridge from the Matsue side. The bridge feels more impressive that way. You can also try going back and forth to get the whole experience. While you’re still in the area, we recommend checking out the Miho-Jinja Shrine, Daikon Island, Mihonoseki LIghthouse, or the Yonago Waterbird Sanctuary.

Other Interesting Facts About the Eshima Ohashi Bridge

Although the Eshima Ohashi Bridge has been active since its opening in 2004, it became a worldwide sensation after Daihatsu filmed an ad that aired worldwide in 2015.

In the ad, a young man is instructed to press the accelerator to the floor as he drives a black Tanto minivan up the steep bridge. He’s told to push the pedal to the floor, hence the betabumi-zaka nickname.

Perhaps the ad was meant to showcase the car’s power and elegance, but it also attracted worldwide interest, giving Eshima Ohashi the reputation of a crazy and dangerous bridge. If you search for the bridge on Google, one of the suggestions is “Eshima Ohashi Bridge deaths.” 

However, this morbid fascination with danger has helped the bridge’s prospects as tourists continue to pour into the area.

Eshima Ohashi Is a Perfectly Normal Bridge

The truth is that the Eshima Ohashi Bridge is perfectly normal. Once you visit it, you may even find capturing the steep gradient in a photo difficult. The best, most awe-inspiring images are taken with a telephoto lens from the Matsue side, as far away from the foot of the bridge as you can.

The best photos are taken from a boat, but only some get such an opportunity. Instead, there’s a supermarket (store) near the intersection about 100 meters (300 feet) from the bridge where you can capture the bridge in all its glory. Free binoculars and telescopes also help visitors view Mt. Daisen and Lake Nakaumi.

The illusion works because the bridge curves slightly and goes out of sight just after the slope on the Matsue side. This hides the rest of the bridge and belies its size and length, creating an optical illusion that the bridge is very short, very high, and very steep.

From the side and top, however, the bridge is massive. Lake Nakaumi is Japan’s 5th-largest lake and was once part of the Sea of Japan, so it makes sense that the bridge across it is a record-holder.

Discover Other Scary Bridges Across the World

It’s disappointing that the Eshima Ohashi Bridge’s fearsome reputation is an illusion, but plenty of other bridges will give you the heebie-jeebies. In fact, some catastrophic bridges have caused loss of life and property.

Today, some of the most dangerous bridges in the world include the following:

• The Titlis Cliff Walk in Switzerland, 10,000 feet high in the Swiss Alps
• The Langkawi Sky Bridge in Malaysia, at a height of 2165 feet
• The hanging rope bridge in Ghasa, Nepal, 1125 feet high
• The Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado, 969 feet high
• The Aiguille du Midi Bridge in France, 12,605 feet above the ground
• The William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge across the stormy Chesapeake Bay in Maryland

Some, like the Hussaini Hanging Bridge in Pakistan, are so dangerous they can kill you if you make a mistake. In Vietnam, they build “monkey bridges” just a few feet above the raging Mekong River using pieces of bamboo.

Eshima Ohashi: Big Bridge, Big Thrill, Wrong Reputation

Fantastic legends and fables can grow up around seemingly mundane objects and events. That’s what happened to the Eshima Ohashi Bridge in Japan. Many people visit it expecting a 45% incline, only to get disappointed by the gentle rise. 

Despite its reputation for being a thrilling and imposing structure, the Eshima Ohashi Bridge should not be misunderstood. It serves as an essential transportation link, accommodating ships while ensuring the smooth flow of vehicles. Its significance lies not only in its size but also in its functionality, making it a vital part of Japan’s infrastructure. 

This is a typical bridge that serves thousands of drivers daily. However, we agree that it’s a thrill to drive across it, and you should do it if you’re in the area.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons – License / Original