Japan’s Most Romantic Sea-Crossing Bridge – Where You Can See “Fireflies of the Sea”

▲ Standing at Fireflies of the Sea and looking toward Chiba, you’ll see the bridge on one side and an undersea tunnel on the other.

Reported and photographed by You T-Ru / Yokohama

Between Chiba and Yokohama in Japan, there is a romantically named sea-crossing bridge rest area called “Fireflies of the Sea.” Its appearance resembles that of an aircraft carrier, but it has become a well-known sea-crossing bridge attraction in Japan because when lit up at night, the sparkling lights look like fireflies scattered across the sea.


▲ The five-story building houses restaurants and shops.

Completed in December 1997, “Fireflies of the Sea” is actually a five-story parking and rest area building resembling an aircraft carrier located on the sea-crossing bridge. It was initially built to promote tourism and travel between Yokohama and Chiba. The 15-kilometer undersea tunnel section combined with the sea-crossing bridge shortens the driving time between the two areas and makes travel more convenient.

Located between the undersea tunnel and the sea-crossing bridge, “Fireflies of the Sea” looks square during the day, but at night when lit up, it displays a romantic glow of twinkling lights. When reporters visited on a rainy winter afternoon, the lights were not yet on, yet from the top of the building, the passing car headlights created an atmosphere reminiscent of fireflies dancing across the sea.

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