🗺️ Nagasaki Prefectural Saikaibashi Park長崎県立西海橋公園

The prefectural park spans across Sasebo City and Nishi-Kyushu City in Nagasaki Prefecture. The park is named after the "Nishi-Kai Bridge," an arch bridge that crosses the Iinoura Strait (Hanao Strait). This bridge connects the Nishi-Kyushu Peninsula, long referred to as an "island on land," with Sasebo City, and was built to revitalize industry and promote urban development. When it was completed in 1955, it was the third longest fixed arch bridge in the world; in 2020, it became the first bridge built after the war to be designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The Iinoura Strait, which flows beneath the Nishi-Kai Bridge, is one of Japan's "Three Major Tidal Currents," and the whirlpools formed by the tides in the strait are quite famous. On the "New Nishi-Kai Bridge," constructed in 2006, there is a pathway with glass windows facing the sea, allowing visitors to see the whirlpools when weather conditions permit. Visitors can park their vehicles at the Nishi-Kai Bridge Park parking lot and then walk along the pathway of the New Nishi-Kai Bridge. The park is well-equipped with various facilities, including a grass sliding area and playground equipment, providing enjoyment for both adults and children.

A prefectural park named after the nationally important cultural asset "Nishikaibashi." The "Shin Nishikaibashi" trail, where visitors can observe whirlpools, is also a popular tourist attraction. The park features a grass sliding area and playground equipment, making it a place for citizens to relax.