Yobuko Ohashi Bridge

Yobuko Ohashi Bridge is a single-pylon cable-stayed bridge that spans the strait between the Yobuko fishing port on Kyushu's mainland and the small island of Kabeshima, part of Genkai National Park in Karatsu City. Completed in 1989, the bridge's tall white pylon and cables are visible from much of the surrounding coastline and have become a recognizable landmark of the Yobuko area, often photographed together with the fishing boats moored in the harbor below. A pedestrian walkway runs alongside the roadway, letting visitors cross on foot for open views over the Genkai Sea, the Yobuko fishing fleet, and, on clear days, the outline of Kabeshima's coastal cliffs ahead. Most visitors treat the bridge as a short scenic stop, walking partway across for photos rather than completing the full crossing, which takes 20 to 30 minutes round trip if walked entirely; drivers continuing onto Kabeshima can also stop at a roadside viewpoint near the bridge's base for a wide shot including the full span. Sunset is the most popular time to visit, since the bridge faces west across the strait and the pylon and cables silhouette dramatically against the evening sky; the crossing can be windy, especially in winter, so visitors should dress accordingly. The bridge itself has no admission and stays open around the clock, so photographers sometimes return after dark to shoot it lit against the night sky over the harbor.