Akashi

Akashi is a city in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It sits on Osaka Bay at the eastern end of the Seto Inland Sea, just east of Kobe, and is part of the Kansai region. Historically a fishing and trading port in the old Harima Province, the city developed as a gateway between the inland sea and the urban centers of western Honshu.

One of its most prominent modern features is the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, also known as Pearl Bridge during construction. Completed in 1998, it carries the Honshu-Shikoku Highway across the Akashi Strait between Kobe on Honshu and Awaji Island. With a central span of about 1,991 meters, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of opening and remains among the longest.

Akashi is known for Akashi-yaki, a local specialty consisting of small octopus-filled batter balls served hot with a dipping sauce. The city maintains a working harbor and a port-oriented economy that includes fishing and light industry. Transport links include JR West services on the Sanyo Main Line serving Akashi Station, and road connections via the bridge and expressways, which reinforce its role as a regional hub near Kobe.