Kurushima-Kaikyo Service Area

Kurushima-Kaikyo Service Area is on the Nishiseto Expressway on Oshima. It sits at the foot of the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge and has an observation deck that anyone can enter free, from the expressway or from local roads. It is an easy stop for visitors to the Shimanami Kaido.

The observation deck looks out over the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge. The bridge consists of three spans, the First, Second and Third bridges, with a total length of about 4.1 km. Completed in 1999, it is the longest bridge on the Shimanami Kaido.

The Kurushima Strait is one of Japan's three great tidal races. When conditions are right, you can watch the currents and passing ships from the deck. Seeing the bridge, the strait and the ships all at once is what makes this deck special.

In the plaza outside the SA is a monument carved with the word "Shimanami." It is a popular photo spot with the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge behind it. Many travelers stop here for a souvenir photo.

The shop inside the SA gathers specialties from across Shikoku. You can buy souvenirs from Ehime, Kochi, Tokushima and Kagawa in one place. It is a good stop at the end of a Shimanami trip or on the way home.

Outside the SA is a stand selling snacks and drinks. You can take food to the observation deck and eat there. There are also places to eat inside the SA.

It is Kurushima-Kaikyo SA on the Nishiseto Expressway (Shimanami Kaido). You can also enter the parking lot from local roads (free). Visitors who do not use the expressway can stop here too.

For a nearby spot to combine it with, we recommend Mt. Kiro Observatory Park on Oshima. Mt. Kiro looks down on the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge from above, while at the SA you see it up close at almost the same height.

For general cycling information on the Shimanami Kaido, see the Shimanami Kaido cycling guide.

Q. Can I get in without using the expressway? Yes. You can enter the parking lot from local roads. It is free.

Q. Is the observation deck free? Yes. There is no admission fee.

Q. Can I see the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge from the SA? Yes. From the observation deck you can see all three spans of the bridge (about 4.1 km in total).