Seto Ohashi Memorial Park

Seto Ohashi Memorial Park is a large seaside park operated by Kagawa Prefecture in Banshu-Midorimachi, Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture. It was developed to commemorate the completion of the Seto Ohashi Bridge. Located at the Shikoku end of the bridge, the park boasts an excellent location with close-up views of the magnificent bridge spanning the Seto Inland Sea. Nearby is Shamijima Island, known as the “Island of Manyo,” and the area is popular as a scenic destination where visitors can enjoy both the beautiful island-dotted scenery of the Seto Inland Sea and a panoramic view of the Seto Ohashi Bridge.

The Seto Ohashi Bridge is a road-and-rail bridge connecting Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture on Honshu with Sakaide City in Kagawa Prefecture on Shikoku. It is considered one of the largest civil engineering projects of the 20th century. Seto Ohashi Memorial Park was developed not only to commemorate the construction of the bridge, but also to pass on to future generations the history and structure of the Seto Ohashi Bridge, as well as the efforts of the people involved in its construction. Today, it is one of Sakaide City’s leading tourist attractions, offering opportunities for sightseeing, learning, walking, sports, and art appreciation.

## Spectacular Views of the Seto Ohashi Bridge

The greatest attraction of Seto Ohashi Memorial Park is the opportunity to view the Seto Ohashi Bridge up close from various locations throughout the park. The massive bridge extending across the calm, blue waters of the Seto Inland Sea is an impressive sight. In particular, the views of the South Bisan-Seto Bridge and the North Bisan-Seto Bridge are among the highlights unique to the park.

On clear days, visitors can take in a magnificent panorama of the islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea together with the Seto Ohashi Bridge. The refreshing scenery is beautiful during the day, while at sunset, the sea and bridge are bathed in golden light, creating a magical atmosphere. The park is also a popular photography destination and is enjoyed by local residents as well as tourists.

## Site of the Seto Ohashi Bridge Commemorative Exposition

Seto Ohashi Memorial Park was developed on the former site of the Seto Ohashi Bridge Commemorative Exposition, “Seto Ohashi Expo ’88—Shikoku,” held in 1988. Covering approximately 10.2 hectares, the park includes memorial facilities and plazas celebrating the completion of the Seto Ohashi Bridge and serves as a place where visitors can learn about the bridge’s history and technology.

The spacious grounds feature a lawn area, children’s playground, sports field, target bird golf course, fountains, gardens, and sculptural works. The park provides an enjoyable space for a wide range of visitors, from families to sports enthusiasts.

## Seto Ohashi Memorial Hall

The central facility in the park is the Seto Ohashi Memorial Hall. Admission is free, and visitors can learn in an easy-to-understand way about the structure of the Seto Ohashi Bridge, the history of its construction, and the process that led to the realization of the project.

Through models, photographs, videos, and panel displays related to the construction of the Seto Ohashi Bridge, the hall explains how the enormous bridge was planned and the technologies used to complete it. Visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the difficulties and ingenuity involved in its construction, as well as the highly advanced bridge-building technology used on a global scale. The facility is enjoyable and educational for everyone from children to adults.

The hall also features the Bridge Theater, where visitors can experience the scale and realism of the Seto Ohashi Bridge’s construction through large-screen images and powerful sound.

## Water Corridor

The main promenade leading from the park’s front entrance to the Seto Ohashi Memorial Hall is called the Water Corridor. This spacious walkway is approximately 25 meters wide and 260 meters long. Washingtonia palms line both sides, creating an open and expansive landscape.

The paving stones represent the sea and islands of the Shiwaku Islands, while the approximately 170-meter-long fountain is designed to evoke the suspension bridges and cable-stayed bridges of the Seto Ohashi Bridge. With its harmonious combination of water, stone, and greenery, this beautiful space allows visitors to experience the world of the Seto Ohashi Bridge while strolling through the park.

## Hama Ritsurin Garden

Hama Ritsurin is a garden designed to evoke Ritsurin Garden, one of Kagawa Prefecture’s most celebrated scenic destinations. With ponds, waterfalls, and rocky hills skillfully arranged throughout the grounds, it offers a tranquil Japanese atmosphere despite being located within a seaside park.

Centered around Kōno Pond, the garden features the Ten-dai viewing platform, the KokGetsu-tei rest area, the enormous stone sculpture Oni Byōbu, and Kuguri Falls, which has a drop of approximately three meters. Visitors can enjoy a style of garden beauty distinct from the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.

## Marine Dome

The Marine Dome is one of Japan’s largest wooden domes, measuring approximately 15 meters high and 50 meters in diameter. This open, seaside rest and observation facility allows visitors to relax while looking out over the Seto Inland Sea and the Seto Ohashi Bridge.

As the facility has a covered roof, it is convenient for taking a break or having a meal on rainy days, and it is also used as an event venue. It is known as one of the filming locations for the 2006 movie *UDON*.

## Sculptures by Masayuki Nagare

Seto Ohashi Memorial Park is home to a number of works by the world-renowned sculptor Masayuki Nagare. Monumental stone sculptures, including his representative works *Dodama Shishi* and *Oni Byōbu*, blend harmoniously with the natural landscape and create an artistic environment unique to the park.

The view of the massive stone sculptures overlapping with the piers of the Seto Ohashi Bridge is one of the park’s most striking and symbolic scenes. Visitors can also enjoy discovering the artworks while strolling through the grounds.

## Lawn Area, Children’s Playground, and Sports Facilities

Seto Ohashi Memorial Park offers not only sightseeing attractions but also numerous facilities where families can play and visitors can enjoy sports.

The spacious lawn area is ideal for picnics, relaxing, and light exercise. The children’s playground, equipped with large play structures, is popular with families with young children. The park also has a sports field that can be used for soccer and a target bird golf course, attracting many sports enthusiasts.

The open setting, where visitors can exercise while feeling the sea breeze, is also cherished by local residents as a place to relax.

## Display Area of Original Construction Materials

One section of the park features equipment and materials actually used during the construction of the Seto Ohashi Bridge. Visitors can see an enormous main cable and construction machinery up close, gaining a real sense of the scale of the bridge project.

When viewed together with the exhibits at the memorial hall, these displays provide an even deeper understanding of the advanced technology used to build the Seto Ohashi Bridge.

## Nearby Facilities

Adjacent to Seto Ohashi Memorial Park is the Kagawa Prefectural Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Museum. The museum displays works by the Japanese-style painter Kaii Higashiyama and offers visitors the opportunity to experience art in a quiet setting overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.

Also located next to the park is the Seto Ohashi Tower. From its rotating observation room, which rises 108 meters above the ground, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view. It is a popular observation spot offering sweeping views of the Seto Ohashi Bridge and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.

## Seasonal Highlights

Seto Ohashi Memorial Park offers a variety of beautiful views throughout the year. In spring, the greenery of the lawns and trees is at its most beautiful, and visitors can stroll through the park while enjoying the sea breeze. In summer, the contrast between the blue sky, the Seto Inland Sea, and the gleaming white Seto Ohashi Bridge is especially striking. In autumn, the clear air makes the island-dotted scenery of the Seto Inland Sea appear even more vivid, while winter offers quiet and peaceful seaside landscapes.

With its spacious grounds, the park is ideal for walking, picnicking, and photography in every season.

## Seto Ohashi Memorial Park Today

Today, Seto Ohashi Memorial Park is both a memorial facility where visitors can learn about the history and technology of the Seto Ohashi Bridge and a seaside park where they can enjoy spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea. With attractions including the Seto Ohashi Memorial Hall, Water Corridor, Hama Ritsurin Garden, Marine Dome, lawn area, children’s playground, sports facilities, and sculptures, the park is a destination where visitors can enjoy sightseeing, learning, and leisure all in one place.

Seto Ohashi Memorial Park allows visitors to experience the grandeur of the bridge and the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea while viewing the Seto Ohashi Bridge up close. It is one of the must-visit attractions when traveling to Kagawa Prefecture.