The Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge (明石海峡大橋, Akashi Kaikyō Ō-hashi?), also known as Pearl Bridge in Japan was completed in 1998 and is the world’s longest suspension bridge (measure by the length of the centre span of 1,991 metres (6,532 ft). It links the city of Kobe on the mainland of Honshū to Iwaya on Awaji Island by crossing the busy Akashi Strait. It carries the part of the Honshū-Shikoku Highway.

It was planned to be one of three Honshū-Shikoku connecting bridges, annexing two borders of the Inland Sea.

Before the Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge was built, ferries carried passengers across the Akashi Strait in Japan. This dangerous waterway often experiences severe storms, and in 1955, two ferries sank in the strait during a storm, killing 168 children. The ensuing shock and public outrage convinced the Japanese government to develop plans for a suspension bridge to cross the strait. The original plan called for a mixed railway-road bridge, but when construction on the bridge began in April 1986, the construction was restricted to road only, with six lanes. Actual construction did not begin until May 1986, and the bridge was opened for traffic on April 5, 1998. The Akashi Strait is an international waterway and required a 1,500 metres (4,921 ft) wide shipping lane.

The bridge has three spans. The central span is 1,991 meters (6,532 ft), with the two other sections each 960 meters (3,150 ft). The bridge is 3,911 meters (12,831 ft) long overall. The central span was originally only 1,990 meters (6,529 ft), but the Kobe earthquake on January 17, 1995 moved the two towers sufficiently so that it had to be increased by 1 meter (only the towers had been erected at the time).

The bridge was designed with a two-hinged stiffening girder system, allowing the structure to withstand winds of 286 kilometers per hour (178 mph), earthquakes measuring to 8.5 on the Richter scale, and harsh sea currents. The bridge also contains pendulums which are designed to operate at the resonance frequency of the bridge to damp forces. The two main supporting towers are 298 meters (978 ft) above sea level, and the bridge can expand up to two meters in one day.

So pretty!

In this season there is nothing better than savoring the beautiful display of christmas in your city. Big and small glimmering lights, and trees with mock presents and doves. It would make a perfect postcard picture. In Japan, there are spectacular light shows during this time of the year. And the one that is most popular is the Kobe Luminarie. You can check out the Kobe Luminarie at Dec 6-17, 2007. But below is a list of Luminarie spots in Tokyo, taken from Japan-Guide.com:

Shiodome (more details)
“Caretta Ocean Xmas” is one of Tokyo’s most spectacular illuminations this year. 10 minute shows with music are held every 30 minutes (Nov 30 to Dec 25, 2007; from 17:00 to 23:30). Nearby Nihon TV has its own illuminations.

Roppongi Hills (more details)
The illumination at Roppongi Hills is called “Artelligent Christmas 2007″ and is most spectacular along Roppongi Keyakizaka Street (Nov 8 to Dec 25, 2007; from 17:00 to 23:00). Furthermore, a German style Christmas Market is held (Dec 1-25, 2007; 11:00 to 21:00).

Tokyo Midtown (more details)
Opened in spring 2007, Tokyo Midtown celebrates its “First Christmas” this year with various illuminations (Nov 15 to Dec 25, 16:00 to 0:00).

Odaiba (more details)
“Daiba Memorial Tree” is a large illuminated tree in Odaiba Kaihin Park in front of the Decks shopping center (Nov 10 to Dec 25, 2007 and Jan 1-14, 2008; from 17:00 to 0:00). Several other places on Odaiba, such as Venusfort, have illumination events, as well.

Tokyo Dome City (more details)
“Happy Christmas 2007″ is the name of the beautiful illuminations around Tokyo Dome and adjacent amusement park (Nov 8 to Dec 25, 2007; 17:00 to 1:00).

Ginza (more details)
Christmas trees along Chuo Street and illuminations by many individual stores, including the “Mikimoto Jumbo Christmas Tree”, make the popular shopping and entertainment district even more colorful than it is anyway.

Marunouchi (more details)
Marunouchi’s Naka Dori is lit up (Nov 16, 2007 to Feb 17, 2008; 17:30 to 23:00) and several buildings in the district, including the Marubiru, have their own displays.

Yebisu Garden Place (more details)
The central plaza is illuminated and a huge crystal chandelier will be displayed during the “Baccarat Eternal Lights” event (Nov 3, 2007 to Jan 14, 2008; from 16:00 to 23:00)

Shinjuku Southern Terrace (more details)
“Shinjuku Southern Lights” is the illumination display on the Shinjuku Southern Terrace, south of JR Shinjuku Station (Nov 9, 2007 to Feb 14; from 17:00 to 0:00).

Kobe (神戸市, Kōbe-shi) is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture and a prominent port city in Japan with a population of about 1.5 million. The city is located in the Kansai region of Japan to the west of Osaka. Kobe is classified as one of Japan’s fifteen designated cities and is a part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan sprawl.

It was one of the first cities to open for trade with the West, in 1868, and as such it is known as a cosmopolitan port city. Consistent with this reputation, Kobe has a population of 45,000 foreign residents from more than 100 countries. The city hosts the Asian or Japan headquarters of a number of companies including Procter & Gamble and Nestlé, and is the point of origin and namesake of Kobe beef.

The city was severely affected by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, in which over 6000 residents lost their lives. Kobe has largely recovered from the damage.

Kobe is situation in between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, which makes it one of the most attractive city in Japan. It is a city that filled with arts and fashion and is widely associated with the cosmopolitan of fashion. Which is why a saying goes, “If you can’t go to Paris, got to Kobe”. Twice a year, a fashion even called Kobe Collection is held in the city while the Kobe Jazz Street is held every October in Jazz clubs and hotels since 1981.

Some of the interesting attractions of this city is the earthquake museum build to commemorate the lives that was lost in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. You can also visit the world’s longest suspension bridge, Akashi Kaikyo, if you’re not afraid of heights and then drop of the Arima Onsen, which is a hot spring that is located within the city.

Of course, not to forget Kobe beef, it is one of the main attractions here - so eat some where you’re in Kobe City :)

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