2 November 2025
Formerly longest
Sorakuen and Akashi Kaikyo
Today was a rest day so I woke up and immediately climbed a hill. Google tells me this was called Suwayama park. It was quite overgrown and a lot of the trails were closed due to landslides, but at the top the view was great.
Next up was the main garden in town, Sorakuen. It practically joins onto Suwayama park and both are within easy walking distance of the main station. Entry was $3, credit card accepted. I think it was worth $3. Apparently it is a fairly recently constructed garden, and the buildings within were moved there from somewhere else. It was nice and quiet though, despite their late 9:30am opening time.
Finally, I headed over to the worlds longest suspension bridge. Except it is not. Turkey now has the longest suspension bridge. Japan needs to update their signage. The bridge joins the mainland with Shikoku via Awaji island, I might go over it in a few days time to get to Shikoku. The great thing about the bridge is it is only about 20 minutes by train from central Kobe at Maiko, and that there are 2 opportunities to spend money on a small admission fee to go up under the bridge and then into the bridge museum. Credit card NOT accepted. This is the first time on this trip I had to use cash for anything. Mildly annoying but the views were worth it.
Sannomiya station has a lot of construction going on. For those not familiar, Sannomiya is the main part of Kobe, Kobe and Shin Kobe are not the main parts. I hope that's clear?
I always enjoy the overpass. Nice trees.
Next I wandered up the hill, where there are a number of houses from the Addams family. This one is a cafe, they all are.
Once I found a way into Suwayama park, and it was the scariest playground I have seen for many years.
Nice view looking into the early sun.
The park is on the side of a big hill, once you get to the top, you can climb up the viewing lookout thing, so I did.
Behold, the view from the top.
After descending through cobweb filled trails to find another way out of the park, here is the entrance gate to Sorakuen garden.
First up, the stables. I suspect these were originally built on this site.
This building however, was moved to this location, and was originally built by an Indian businessman.
The Japanese part of the garden is very nice. The building on the right used to be a river boat of some kind.
Nice views all around the lake.
OK one more.
After a short train ride, it was time to admire the bridge. Akashi Kaikyo, I won't be typing it's convoluted name again.
Cash is required to go up to the viewing galleries that hang off the bottom of the bridge. I enjoyed looking at the trusses.
Although they have encased it all in mesh, it is open to the sea air and the mesh is spaced wide enough that you can take a mesh free photo.
There are a couple of enclosed bits along the catwalks. One of which has a cafe.
Opportunity for conjunctivitis.
I enjoy this photo a lot.
This is the end of the bits you can walk on. I really wanted to continue all the way across on the service catwalk below. The actual road is above. There is no train over this bridge, which is surprising.
Here is the view in the other direction, nothing special.
OK, one more of the bridge. I believe it is crooked, or the ocean is, or both.
Finally, the museum, which also does not take credit card, is small but pretty good. A lot of info in Japanese only, but also informative pictures. If you like info on steel cables, this is your museum.