[Kurushima Kaikyo Sightseeing Boat & Tower-Top Experience] Towering Whirlpools and Grand Views of the Seto Inland Sea’s Islands

Your meeting place is the waiting area at Shitadami Port on the southern side of Oshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea.
Nearby is the “Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Yoshiumi ikiikikan,” where you can pick out fresh seafood from live tanks for a barbecue, as well as shop for Ehime’s farm produce, marine products, and Imabari’s famous towels. It’s a great spot to grab a meal or souvenirs before or after your tour.
Once you arrive at the waiting area, you’ll receive safety instructions and a briefing about the sightseeing cruise and tower-top experience, then set sail on the Kurushima Strait. The explanatory video shown during the briefing includes English subtitles, so international visitors can participate with peace of mind.

Kurushima Strait, the site of the cruise, is considered one of Japan’s three fastest tidal currents, along with the Naruto and Kanmon Straits. At times, its flow can reach nearly ten knots. Due to the changing currents, a rare navigational method called “junchu-gyakusei” is employed, altering the route according to the direction of the flow. Through the windows of the cruise ship, you can see up close how the waters roil and bubble like a boil, forming swirling whirlpools that send spray into the air. The Seto Inland Sea is also steeped in history. Along the cruise route are traces of the Murakami Kaizoku, a medieval sea clan that once controlled these waters, as well as forts built during the Russo-Japanese War, complete with displays like a full-scale replica of a 28-centimeter howitzer.

As you listen to your guide share stories of this rich natural setting and historical heritage, the boat powers through the lively sea toward Imabari.
Heading in the direction of Imabari, a global center of maritime industry, the cruise enters Hashihama Bay, where you can get startlingly close to large vessels under construction or repair. It’s a rare chance to view ships and their colossal propellers from just a short distance away.
After exploring these fascinating sights, the ship returns toward Oshima, finally arriving at Umashima, home to the main tower you’ll ascend.

The Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge spans 4,105 meters from Oshima to Imabari, made up of three separate bridges: the First (from Oshima to Mushijima), the Second (from Mushijima to Umashima), and the Third (from Umashima to Shikoku).
The tower you’ll climb is on Umashima, almost in the center of the Seto Inland Sea between the second and third sections of this triple suspension bridge. This island is home to only a few residents and bridge maintenance staff. Because you can’t descend onto the island from the roadway overhead, the only way to land here is by boat.

Upon reaching the island, you’ll receive a helmet and a strap to secure your smartphone from the guide. Then you’ll enter the main tower, normally off-limits to the public. Stepping inside through a sturdy maintenance door and a narrow entrance, you’ll find thick walls, extensive wiring, and a faint glow illuminating the vast interior of this massive structure. Although the tower rises to 180 meters, there’s no need to climb the stairs; an elevator speeds you straight up to about the 52nd floor, allowing you to reach the top quickly and easily.
When you get off the elevator and ascend the steep steps, a hatch overhead opens to a sudden change of scenery.
Brilliant sunlight and a refreshing breeze greet you at the 184-meter-high tower top, unveiling a breathtaking panorama.

The 184-meter-high view is nothing short of spectacular.
From this lofty vantage point with no enclosures like a conventional observation deck, you can savor an exhilarating sense of openness in the breezy maintenance walkway.
Looking out from the tower’s horizontal platform, the northern view reveals Umashima and Oshima along with numerous islands scattered across the Seto Inland Sea, while to the south you’ll see massive ships and cranes in the dock areas and the panorama of Imabari City.

Up close, graceful white cables extend from the main tower, while cars and cyclists—reduced to tiny dots—cross the center of the bridge. Directly below, tankers and small boats traverse the choppy Seto Inland Sea, passing through whirlpools known as the Yawata Uzushio.

Simply relaxing and gazing at the scenery is splendid in itself, but talking to the guide—who can answer everything from where to find the best views to how the bridge was built—opens up a whole new perspective on both the bridge and the surrounding scenery.
You’ll have about 15 minutes at the top. Feel free to snap photos or hand your phone to the guide for a commemorative shot.
Once you’ve taken in the grandeur of this vantage point, you’ll descend the tower and sail back to Shitadami Port, concluding the tour.
If this spectacular view inspires you, be sure to look out for the “Sunset Strike,” a mystical sight that occurs only twice a year when the sun aligns perfectly within the tower’s frame. You can catch it on live internet broadcasts and other media.

How was the Kurushima Kaikyo Sightseeing Boat & Tower-Top Experience?
It combines two extraordinary opportunities: cruising close enough to see dramatic whirlpools formed by strong tides, and ascending the top of a stunning triple suspension bridge.
Available only from April to June, this limited-time tour is well worth weaving into your travel plans.
(There are also plans for an autumn session—see the official website below for details.)