Irabu Bridge (伊良部大橋) which connects Miyako Island to Irabu Island, is Japan’s longest toll-free bridge. The bridge doesn’t just have an artistic shape, but the scenery from the bridge is just simply awe-inspiring! Irabu Bridge has a total length of 3,540 meters. With many coral reefs underneath and the breathtaking azure-colored ocean, any photo with the Irabu Bridge will undoubtedly receive a lot of attention on social media.
The bridge’s highest point is 27 meters above the sea, which means it is as tall as a 9-level building! While we may be exaggerating a bit, driving through the bridge can somehow feel like riding a roller coaster!
Important: You can’t park on the bridge. Although there is a bit of space where parking is possible at the highest point of the Irabu Bridge, it is still dangerous and can cause trouble to others.
Tips:
☛ Instead of driving, you can cycle through the bridge. That way, you can safely stop at that extra space on the bridge. If you are lucky, you might even be able to spot a sea turtle coming up to the surface!
☛ The scenery is the best from the left side of Irabu Bridge when you travel from Irabu Island towards Miyako Island.
Irabu Bridge’s Importance
It is probably hard to imagine, but it actually took 40 years to bring Irabu Bridge to reality.
Before the bridge was completed in 2015, the only way to access Irabu Bridge was by ferry or airplane. While it doesn’t sound too bad for tourists, it was quite an issue for the islanders. After all, the Japanese didn’t spend 39.5 billion yen to build a bridge only for us tourists. It is an indispensable bridge for the locals’ daily life, especially during the typhoon seasons.
Irabu Bridge doesn’t just enable Irabu Island’s residents to get to Miyako Island easily. It also provides daily necessities, such as water supply.
The Best Irabu Bridge Photo Spots
- Ōhashi Free Parking Lot (伊良部大橋 無料駐車場) at Miyako Island’s end of the Irabu Bridge: You can get a photo with the bridge’s nameplate and the bridge itself.
- Nagayama no Hama Beach (長山の浜): The beach at the bottom of the Irabu Bridge on Irabu Island.
- From Irabu Bridge Seaside Station’s (いらぶ大橋 海の駅) observation deck: It is close to Irabu Island’s end of the Irabu Bridge.
- Makiyama Observatory (牧山展望台): Located at the highest point of Irabu Island. The panoramic view from the observatory is just magnificent.
- There are also a couple of spots that will give you a great view of Irabu Bridge around Makiyama Observatory.
- Yamatobu Rock (ヤマトブー大岩): A hidden gem to take great photos of the Irabu Bridge. There is a rock at the front of the bridge that looks like a turtle, which will add some cuteness to your majestic photos!
- Note that this spot is located on a sharp curve that provides poor visibility from the road. It is best to park the car around 100 meters from the rock and walk there.
- At the top of the hill from Day’s Beach Hotel Zuicho: If you drive up from the hotel, you will soon reach an intersection. Close to the intersection is a part of the road without a guardrail. It is another spot to see the entire Irabu Bridge.
- Ryūgūjō Observation Deck (竜宮城展望台) on Kurima Island: It is a spot where you can see the Irabu Bridge from afar.
The Best Time of the Year to Visit Irabu Bridge
The blue color of the seawater around Irabu Bridge is the best during August and September, especially September.
How to Get to Irabu Bridge
- Irabu Bridge is around a 15-minute drive from Shimojishima Airport (下地島空港) and Miyako Airport (宮古空港).
- You can also take a bus from Miyako Island’s Hirara area and get off at Dream Castle-mae (ドリームキャッスル前).
- It is then a 15-minute walk to Irabu Ōhashi Free Parking Lot (伊良部大橋 無料駐車場).
Explore Other Parts of Irabu Island
Once you cross the Irabu Bridge, you can start exploring the small island filled with beaches as beautiful as Miyako-jima Island. Because many tourists would spend most of their time on Miyako Island, you will have more space at the attractions on Irabu Island. Plus, the small island has a few stunning hidden gems awaiting you to visit!
So, refer to our Irabu island article to enrich your itinerary!
