Japan : Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Kobe

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Hotspot #21 : The World's Longest Suspension Bridge

After a short ferry ride, we took a tram ride to Hiroshima Station to collect our bags. From there, we took a SKS trip (Hikari Shinkansen) to Kobe, and stopped at Nishi-Akashi Station, and later, changed for JR Kobe Line to Maiko Station. (See, this is what you need to do to fully utilize the JR Pass to the max!)

Kobe, a port city, alongside Yokohama, Nagasaki, Hakodate, and Niigata. Once, it was hit by the great hanshin earthquake, it destroyed 10,000 buildings and killed over 5,000 people. And today? The city is completely rebuilt! How amazing…

Knowing that it was just a stop-by hotspot, we left our bags, again, in 400yen coin locker. After a short train ride, we reached Maiko Park, where we had our jaw, DROPPED!

The famous Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge.

“HUIYOOOO! THE BRIDGE IS SUPERRRRRRRRRRRR LONG AND HUGE!” We can barely see the end of the bridge.

I quickly setup the tripod for a couple shot since it was getting dusk. Without perfect lighting, sure goyang one.

We then walked further, under the bridge that connects Kobe with Awaji Island, via the Kobe Awaji-Naruto Expressway. (Naruto tuuuuu!) Believe it or not, this 4km length bridge is the world’s longest suspension bridge!

At this Maiko Marine Promenade, there is an observatory hallways, 50 meters above the water. And yes, the 2.5 hour-guided-tour-ONLY-in-Japanese, came with fee, which is 240yen. Again, no, thanks.

There was an exhibition center before the bridge that provides well presented info about the planning, construction, and the detailing. Unfortunately it is closed. Anyhow, I didn’t feel frustrated at all coz all the info are available ONLY in Japanese. Hmmm.

“Gunakanlah bahasa kebangsaan kiiiiiita, marilah amalkan ramai-ramaiiiiii…” Hahaha!

"Wait for sunset, then we off to Kyoto, ok?"

Satisfied fluttering over the bridge, we went back to the Maiko Station and collected our bags.

“Ready for maximum Shinkansen ride?”

From Nishi-Akashi Station, we went to Shin-Osaka via JR Kobe Line Rapid (Kodama Shinkansen). From Shin-Osaka, we went to Kyoto Station via JR Special Rapid (Hikari Shinkansen). From Kyoto Station, we went to Tofukuji Station via JR Nara Line (normal train). From Tofukuji, we went to Gion-Shijo via Keihan Main Line (150yen normal train).

P/S: Thanks to Chawana, for a quick sneak preview of Kyoto Station, that gave us an idea of how it looked like.

NOW YOU SEE, HOW WORTH IT THE JR PASS WAS!  (If it wasn’t because of Jam Hostel located on Keihan Main Line, all rides would be free.)

We were so glad that the Jam Hostel was just 5 minutes walk from the subway station. We stopped at 7-E to get two packs of meal and went to the hostel. We were welcomed by two urban Japanese by the counter, and collected the keys and being given the info on this hostel’s rules and policy. Took off the shoes, wore provided sandals, walked up, met other hosteliers, unloaded our personal things, and…

“Where to heat up our dinner?”

The common room was in the pantry. 4 chairs with 1 round table, fully conquered by Caucasians with laptops (free wifi), sipping bottomless tea and coffee. Hmmm…

Since there was no sign of them going out from the pantry, we ate on the bed. One Thai guy was packing his bag and started the conversation with us, since we were the only Asian in that 8-bed dorm. This was the third time he came to Japan and from what he told us, he has been to many places. Good that we got more tips from him to walk around Kyoto, in exchanging from our tips to him, to walk around Tokyo.

“Ayang, tengok baju dia…” Hubby spoken in Malay, asking me to look on the guy’s cloths that he loaded in his trolley-bag.

“Oh mai…bunga-bunga?! Dia ingat pi pantai ke?!” I can’t control myself and started covering my mouth, looking at his flowery beach shirts.

The Thai guy earlier told us that he thought that Japan is like Thailand, hot, sunny, and beach-ready. Weh, spring kotttttt! Agak-agak laaaa…hahaha! It was freaking cold at night, and breezy at day, you know!

So we prepared to sleep.

BUT I COULD NOT!

The Thai guy was snoring like a steam train, from Thailand straight to Nepal! SUPER LOUD! I tried many ways to keep it down!

1. Covered my ears with pillow. Still can hear!
2. Covered my ears with both palms. Still can hear!
3. Stuck my ears with both pointing fingers. Still can hear!
4. Stuck my ears with cotton balls. Still can hear!

In fact, the guy started to chant something in Thai!

“Loi thim noi tu bang de pak errrrr…medaiiii...medaiiii...nang nak pung tok dui chang maiiii...”

YA ALLAHHHH! I felt like watching Thai horror movie! I didn’t even remember how I managed to sleep that night...I guess the handsome Ananda Everingham (actor in Shutter) was IN the picture, thus, I’ve made it.

Read HERE for Travelista version.