Shimameshiya Hokuto
Kasumaki: A celebratory sweet passed down in Tsushima since the Edo period.
What is Akashima Ohashi?
Akashima Ohashi is a striking red bridge located in Mitsushima-machi, Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture, connecting the main island of Tsushima (Tosaka district) with the smaller island of Akashima. Its vivid red structure stands out sharply against the region’s dense greenery and marine landscape. Opened in 1979, the bridge fundamentally changed local transit for Akashima’s residents, who previously relied entirely on boats. Today, it serves as vital infrastructure while gaining recognition as a scenic coastal driving destination.
The bridge spans the eastern portion of Aso Bay, Tsushima’s iconic sprawling body of water characterized by a complex rias coastline. The visual contrast between the deep emerald sea, the forested hills, and the bright crimson steel forms one of the area’s most distinct coastal views.
Highlights of Akashima Ohashi
What stands out the most is the striking geometric silhouette of the red truss bridge set against the shifting colors of the bay. Depending on the sunlight, the exceptionally clear waters of Aso Bay transition from vibrant cobalt blue to light emerald green, complementing the seasonal changes of the surrounding mountainsides.
Unlike more mainstream tourist destinations on the main island, Akashima Ohashi remains relatively quiet and uncrowded. From the center of the span, visitors have an unobstructed 360-degree view of the intricate network of inlets and the numerous uninhabited islands dotting Aso Bay.
The contrast between the blue sea and the crimson bridge is absolutely stunning!
How to Enjoy Your Visit
The best way to visit the bridge is via rental car, driving east from central Mitsushima-machi along a quiet, winding road through the hills until the red structure suddenly appears.
After parking safely in an open roadside space near the bridge approach, visitors can walk across the span to take in the views. On clear, calm days, the water below is transparent enough to reveal the rocky seabed and marine life from above. The midpoint of the bridge provides an excellent vantage point for landscape photography.
The ideal time to visit for vibrant water color is between morning and noon when the sun is overhead. Alternatively, arriving at dusk offers a view of the red structure silhouetted against the setting sun. Crossing completely over to Akashima brings visitors to a small, quiet fishing village that showcases a slower, traditional coastal lifestyle.
Basic Information
・Name: Akashima Ohashi
・Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Free to view)
・Closed: Open year-round
・Price: Free
・Parking: No dedicated parking lot (Visitors may use safe, wide sections of the roadside near the bridge approach without blocking traffic)
Access
・Address: Tosaka / Akashima, Mitsushima-machi, Tsushima-shi, Nagasaki Prefecture
By Public Transport: Approximately 30 minutes by taxi or local bus from Tsushima Airport (rental cars are highly recommended due to limited bus schedules).
By Car: About 25 minutes from Tsushima Airport, or 40 minutes from Izuhara Port. Izuhara Port.
Nearby Ryokan
SPOT
