A Sightseeing Guide to Tsunoshima Bridge to Help You Enjoy Its Spectacular Views Even More

A Sightseeing Guide to Tsunoshima Bridge to Help You Enjoy Its Spectacular Views Even More

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Written by :  GOOD LUCK TRIP

Tsunoshima Bridge is both a great driving spot and a photo spot where you can see the cobalt-blue sea up close.
It is beautiful even from nearby, but if you want to fully enjoy the spectacular scenery, be sure to check out the best viewpoints.
This article focuses on access to Tsunoshima Bridge and recommended viewpoints, while also introducing the best seasons to visit.
It also features sightseeing spots you should visit along with it, so this guide will help you make the most of your trip to Tsunoshima Bridge and Yamaguchi Prefecture.

What is Tsunoshima Bridge Like?

Tsunoshima Bridge connects Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture with the remote island of Tsunoshima.
At 1,780 meters long, it is one of Japan’s longest bridges connecting to a remote island that can be crossed free of charge.
The greatest appeal of Tsunoshima Bridge is its grand and beautiful scenery, which blends in with the surrounding natural landscape.
Not only can you see the cobalt-blue sea up close, but the shape of Tsunoshima Bridge itself is also striking, giving it great appeal as a structure.
It was designed with lower bridge piers so as not to spoil the surrounding scenery.
It has also been used as a filming location for many commercials and TV dramas, so you have likely seen it before.
Be sure to enjoy not only the spectacular scenery of Tsunoshima Bridge, but also the attractive sightseeing spots on Tsunoshima Island.
Tsunoshima, with an area of Approx. 4 square kilometers and a population of around 700, is full of sightseeing spots, including the cultural heritage site Tsunoshima Lighthouse, Tsunoshima Nature Museum, and several parks with sweeping views of the beautiful sea.
It is said that the island was named Tsunoshima because its two capes, Yumesaki and Makizaki, look like the horns of a cow.

The spectacular scenery of Tsunoshima Bridge is so beautiful that it has been used as a filming location for many TV dramas and commercials
The spectacular scenery of Tsunoshima Bridge is so beautiful that it has been used as a filming location for many TV dramas and commercials
Tsunoshima also has plenty of attractive spots, so be sure to explore a little farther
Tsunoshima also has plenty of attractive spots, so be sure to explore a little farther

Access to Tsunoshima Bridge

Starting from Yamaguchi Ube Airport, which has international flights, here is how to get to Tsunoshima Bridge.
If you use public transportation, you will need to transfer between trains and buses several times, so renting a car is recommended.

Route
1. At Yamaguchi Ube Airport, take the limousine bus bound for Shimonoseki Station and get off at the
Chofu Ekimae bus stop
2. At Chofu Station, take the Sanyo Main Line bound for Shimonoseki and get off at Hatabu Station
3. At Hatabu Station, take the Sanin Main Line bound for Nagatoshi and get off at Agawa Station
4. From Agawa Shimoichi, take the Blue Line Kotsu bus and get off at Hotel Nishinagato Resort Iriguchi
5. Approx. 15 minutes on foot
Travel time
Approx. 3 hours 30 minutes

What Is the Best Season to Visit Tsunoshima Bridge?

If you are planning to visit Tsunoshima Bridge, summer is the best season.
The summer sunlight reflecting off the cobalt-blue sea creates a one-of-a-kind view with indescribable beauty.
There is also a beach near Tsunoshima Bridge, making summer the perfect time to enjoy swimming in the beautiful sea.

Summer is recommended, when you can also enjoy swimming at the beautiful nearby beach
Summer is recommended, when you can also enjoy swimming at the beautiful nearby beach

5 Viewpoints for Spectacular Scenery of Tsunoshima Bridge and Tsunoshima Island

There are several scenic spots around the area where you can look out over Tsunoshima Bridge.
Among them, here are some carefully selected viewpoints that are especially worth visiting.
We will also introduce viewpoints where you can enjoy the stunning scenery of Tsunoshima Island, so be sure to stop by.

1. Amagase Park, where you can feel the beauty of the sea and the scale of Tsunoshima Bridge

Amagase Park is located at the entrance to Tsunoshima Bridge on the Honshu side, on the right as you head toward the bridge.
It is a classic viewpoint with parking and shops available.
It is especially close to the water, making it the easiest place to appreciate the beauty and clarity of the sea.
Its appeal lies in being able to capture the beautiful sea while experiencing the scale of Tsunoshima Bridge up close.

Be sure to notice not only the beauty of Tsunoshima Bridge, but also the beauty of the sea
Be sure to notice not only the beauty of Tsunoshima Bridge, but also the beauty of the sea

2. Tsunoshima Observatory, with panoramic views of the beautiful bridge leading to the island

Tsunoshima Observatory is on the left at the entrance on the Honshu side as you head toward Tsunoshima Bridge.
As its name suggests, it has some elevation, allowing you to look at Tsunoshima Bridge from a slightly higher perspective.
Its highlight is the sweeping view of both the bridge and the sea from a more picturesque angle.
You can photograph Tsunoshima Bridge from a diagonal upper angle, which makes it possible to capture the bridge piers in your shot.

Tsunoshima Bridge is also beautiful when viewed from a little farther away and from a higher point
Tsunoshima Bridge is also beautiful when viewed from a little farther away and from a higher point

3. The most popular viewpoint: the hill directly facing Tsunoshima Bridge

As you head toward Tsunoshima Bridge, there is a hill a little behind Amagase Park.
It is simply part of a regular residential area that happens to sit on higher ground.
Its biggest feature and appeal is that you can look straight at Tsunoshima Bridge and view or photograph it from above.
Many of the photos featured in travel magazines were taken from this hill, so you can see in person the view you may already know from pictures.
It is the most popular of the viewpoints overlooking Tsunoshima Bridge, but please enjoy the scenery while being careful not to disturb nearby residents.

If you know Tsunoshima Bridge, this is a view you have probably seen at least once
If you know Tsunoshima Bridge, this is a view you have probably seen at least once

4. Tsunoshima Lighthouse, with the cobalt-blue sea and horizon stretching out below

Tsunoshima Lighthouse stands on the western end of Tsunoshima Island, to the west-northwest of Tsunoshima Bridge.
It is one of the few lighthouses in Japan that you can climb, and after going up the spiral staircase, you will be rewarded with 360-degree views.
The horizon and townscape spread out below, letting you enjoy a very open and refreshing view.
There are not many people around, which makes it especially appealing if you want to take in the scenery in peace.

It is also one of the most popular sightseeing spots on Tsunoshima Island
It is also one of the most popular sightseeing spots on Tsunoshima Island
Take your time and enjoy the open, spectacular scenery
Take your time and enjoy the open, spectacular scenery

5. Enjoy the spectacular view all to yourself at the hidden gem Makizaki Kaze no Koen

Makizaki Kaze no Koen is located north of Tsunoshima Bridge, at the northern tip of Tsunoshima Island.
It can be described as a little-known hidden viewpoint.
This natural spot is characterized by open pastureland and wild Darumagiku chrysanthemums.
You can enjoy a sweeping view of the horizon from a perspective close to the sea.
Its appeal is being able to look out over the sea from a nature-rich place with almost no buildings around.

Take your time enjoying Tsunoshima’s spectacular scenery in a place with few people and few buildings
Take your time enjoying Tsunoshima’s spectacular scenery in a place with few people and few buildings

Enjoy Seafood! 3 Recommended Gourmet Spots Around Tsunoshima Bridge

After taking in the spectacular scenery of Tsunoshima Bridge and Tsunoshima Island, it is time to enjoy some of Tsunoshima’s excellent local food.
Be sure to savor dishes made with fresh seafood caught around Tsunoshima.

1. Washokudokoro Yume Misaki

Located in the northwestern part of Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Tsunoshima is bustling with visitors who come for fishing, swimming, and camping. Washokudokoro Yume Misaki is a place where you can enjoy food unique to an island surrounded by the sea on all sides. 
There is a wide variety of rice bowls on offer, including fugu, salmon & salmon roe, fresh sea urchin, and abalone, with seasonal options such as amberjack and yellowtail amberjack also appearing.
Among the many kinds of seafood, the top recommendation is Kottoi Ika, the highest-grade swordtip squid landed at Kottoi Fishing Port near Tsunoshima.

Rice bowls and set meals packed with seafood from the waters around Tsunoshima
Rice bowls and set meals packed with seafood from the waters around Tsunoshima

2. Fresh Shiokaze no Sato

This dining spot is located inside Shiokaze no Sato Tsunoshima, which also has souvenir shops and more. The building was designed in the image of a menoha hut, used to store tools for gathering rocky-shore seafood, and you can enjoy seafood dishes here.
You can savor fish caught near Tsunoshima as sashimi or simmered dishes. The menu includes a sashimi set meal served with small side dishes, rice, miso soup, and pickles, as well as rice bowls generously topped with fresh sea urchin landed in Hohoku Town and tempura rice bowls topped with fugu tempura.

Enjoy ingredients Tsunoshima is proud of, including sea urchin and turban shell
Enjoy ingredients Tsunoshima is proud of, including sea urchin and turban shell

3. Granvista Tsunoshima

This restaurant stands near the historic Tsunoshima Lighthouse, which is also designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and lets you enjoy a meal while taking in spectacular ocean views. It is especially known for the beautiful sunset seen from its terrace seats.
The menu is wide-ranging, from Yamaguchi specialty kawara soba to seafood ganganyaki, in which fresh seafood is steamed with sake in a can, as well as seafood rice bowls and Western dishes such as crab pasta and abalone risotto.

Dine and stay in a spectacular location overlooking the sea and sunset
Dine and stay in a spectacular location overlooking the sea and sunset

Tsunoshima Bridge Is Not the Only One! 3 Spectacular Scenic Spots in Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi is home to many grand structures that rival Tsunoshima Bridge, as well as historically valuable buildings, giving it no shortage of spectacular scenic spots.
If you visit Yamaguchi, be sure to see not only Tsunoshima Bridge but also some of the prefecture’s other iconic scenic spots.

1. Kanmon Bridge

Opened in 1973, this suspension bridge connects Moji in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, with Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Spanning the Kanmon Strait, this 1,068-meter-long bridge was the longest in the East at the time it opened. It is part of an expressway, connecting Mojiko IC in Kitakyushu City with Shimonoseki IC in Shimonoseki City, and only motor vehicles can cross it (excluding vehicles not permitted on expressways).
It is also known as a scenic spot, and the green-gray bridge that blends into the surroundings is beautiful. If you walk along the Mekari Kanchoyu Hodo promenade on the Mojiko side, you can also look up at its विशाल bridge piers.

A 1,068-meter suspension bridge spanning the Kanmon Strait and connecting Honshu and Kyushu
A 1,068-meter suspension bridge spanning the Kanmon Strait and connecting Honshu and Kyushu

2. Motonosumi Shrine

Motonosumi Shrine, in Tsuo, Yuya, Nagato City, is also known as one of Yamaguchi’s spiritual spots.
An offering box is placed on top of the 6-meter-tall main torii gate within the shrine grounds, and it is said that if you successfully throw a coin into it, your wish will come true.
The sight of 123 vermilion torii gates lined up densely like falling dominoes toward the blue sea is breathtaking.
It was even selected as one of CNN’s “31 Most Beautiful Places in Japan.”

The sight of 123 torii gates overlooking the sea is breathtaking
The sight of 123 torii gates overlooking the sea is breathtaking

3. Kintaikyo Bridge

Kintaikyo Bridge is one of Japan’s most representative wooden bridges, designated by the national government as a Place of Scenic Beauty and counted among Japan’s three most famous bridges.
This large and beautiful five-arch wooden bridge spans the Nishiki River and measures 193.3 meters long and 5 meters wide.
Its structure is unlike any other in the world, and it is aiming for registration as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
Its sturdy wooden joinery makes the bridge even stronger under pressure from above. If you look up from beneath the bridge, you can clearly see the wooden framework.

One of Japan’s most iconic bridges, known for its beautiful wooden arches unlike any other in the world
One of Japan’s most iconic bridges, known for its beautiful wooden arches unlike any other in the world

Reviews

3.86

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • 阿秀
    25 Mar 2024

    There aren't many tourist facilities around here, so you really have to consider whether it's worth making the trip. Honestly, this spot felt like a bit of a waste of time.

  • Julie Chen
    9 Jan 2023

    Tsunoshima Bridge is a true landmark of Shimonoseki City, completed in 2000. At 1,780 meters long, it was the longest toll-free bridge in Japan at the time.
    It's a favorite spot for car commercials, and even my favorite, Takuya Kimura (from HERO), filmed here! The water is amazing! 😯

  • 鄭品儒
    7 Jan 2023

    The way the sky and sea blend together is just stunning. The view is truly unforgettable.

FAQ about Tsunoshima Bridge

Q

Can you walk across Tsunoshima Bridge?

A

Yes, you can walk across it, but there is no sidewalk, so please watch out for cars.

Q

How much is the admission fee for Tsunoshima Bridge?

A

Admission and tolls are free.

Summary

This article has introduced access to Tsunoshima Bridge and some of its best viewpoints.
Be sure to enjoy the spectacular scenery created by the beautiful open sea, Tsunoshima Bridge, and the surrounding natural landscape. If you have extra time, head over to Tsunoshima Island as well.
If you want to make the most of sightseeing in Yamaguchi, check out this article too, which carefully selects and introduces some of the prefecture’s most attractive sightseeing spots.