About
Suspended 45 meters above the sea surface over the Naruto Strait is the Great Naruto Bridge. Walking along the “Whirlpool Road,” a 450-meter-long promenade built beneath the bridge girders, you can look down through the glass floor at your feet and see the whirlpools of the Naruto Strait—one of the world’s three largest tidal currents—spreading out below.
These whirlpools are a natural work of art, created by the difference in tide levels between the Seto Inland Sea and the Kii Channel. During the spring and autumn spring tides, when the difference between high and low tide is greatest, enormous whirlpools with diameters exceeding 20 meters can appear. Their intensity gives a sense of vitality, as if the sea itself is breathing.
Standing in the observation room of the “Whirlpool Road,” the blue of the sea and sky stretching out in all directions and the contrast of the white waves swirling beneath your feet leap into view. Looking down at the whirlpools through the glass floor, you feel a thrilling sense of being drawn in, directly experiencing the power of nature.
Since ancient times, legends about the whirlpools have been passed down in this area. One such tale tells that the whirlpools were born from the wrath of a dragon god. People are said to have offered prayers to calm the dragon god and wished for safety at sea. Even now, the whirlpools continue to captivate visitors with their mysterious appearance.
Walking along the “Whirlpool Road,” feeling the sea breeze and the pulse of the ocean, you experience a moment that can only be found here—an impression that will remain deeply etched in your heart.