By NAOYUKI MORI/ Staff Writer
January 17, 2024 at 18:49 JST
The two-day tour features camping at the observation deck of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Hyogo Prefecture. (Provided by the Hyogo Prefecture Horticulture and Park Association)
KOBE--Travelers with no fear of heights can enjoy breathtaking views while camping on the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge here during a special two-day tour--for a whopping 297,000 yen ($2,000).
Despite the hefty price tag, reservations are being booked, including some by foreign tourists.
This is the first opportunity for tourists to stay overnight within the giant structure that links Kobe and Awaji, located on Awajishima island.
Guests will stay in tents set up at the indoor viewing deck located under the bridge’s roads, enjoying sunset and sunrise from 47 meters above the sea.
The tour will offer a sushi dinner featuring local fish and sake, accompanied by live jazz performance.
Camping on one of the largest suspension bridges in the world is sure to be a unique experience, with even the nighttime rumble of traffic above adding to the distinct atmosphere.
“It might lull you to sleep just like dozing off on a gently rocking train,” said a spokesperson for the Hyogo Prefecture Horticulture and Park Association, which is co-organizing the tour.
Participants can also enjoy watching the bridge from the sea on a cruise across the Akashi Strait the following morning.
The second day of the tour will also feature a visit to a local shopping district, fish market and sake brewery in Akashi.
The tour will be held twice, first on Feb. 14 and 15 and then on Feb. 16 and 17, with spots available for 25 people in each tour. The offer is valid until the end of January.
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