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Keramashoto NP, Okinawa
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Aka Ohashi was Japan’s first arch bridge built with short-line match-cast precast segments: concrete pieces were shaped to fit their neighbors. The innovative design and construction earned it the 1998 Tanaka Prize.
Before Aka Ohashi opened on June 24, 1998, small boats were the only link between Aka and Geruma; bad weather made even urgent patient transfers difficult. The 530-meter bridge created a dependable road connection.
Sea turtles live in the clear water below Aka Ohashi, and visitors sometimes spot them from above. The 530-meter crossing can turn into an unexpected wildlife-watching spot.
Crossing to Gerumajima puts Takara Residence along a walking route from the bridge. Built in the latter half of the 19th century, its original red roof tiles and coral-stone walls preserve traditional island architecture from the Ryukyu Kingdom era.
To resist Okinawa’s hot, humid, salt-heavy air, builders used extra-thick concrete cover, epoxy-coated reinforcing bars, zinc-plated sheaths and details designed to discourage salt buildup.
Aka Ohashi stretches 530 meters across the water. Its central arch spans 125 meters, with a navigation opening below that is 70 meters wide and 8.9 meters high.
