It looks like a rollercoaster—but it’s a real road you can actually drive 🤯” This Japanese bridge keeps going viral thanks to a wild camera trick that makes it look impossibly steep. But is it really that scary? Details in the full article below 👇
A video showing an optical illusion on Japan’s Eshima Ohashi Bridge is going viral on TikTok. The bridge looks incredibly steep at first glance—but the reality is quite different.
The slope is real, but it’s not nearly as extreme as the video makes it seem. The bridge was designed this way so it could rise high enough for ships to pass underneath on Lake Nakaumi, which it crosses. The bridge connects two Japanese prefectures and stretches more than 1.5 kilometers in length. The two-lane road is just over 11 meters wide, and its unusual look has drawn attention around the world.
Would you drive on this bridge? 😳
📍Eshima Ohashi Bridge, Japan pic.twitter.com/8DNxRksHuS
— The Unexplained (@Unexplained) July 28, 2021
Eshima Ohashi ranks third among the longest bridges in the world that span over water. In Japan, it’s number one in that category.
The viral interest in the bridge might have been inspired by an older car commercial from Daihatsu Motor Co., which promoted their Tanto minivan. The ad was shot in a way that made the bridge look incredibly steep—like a challenge only their vehicle could conquer.
In reality, the slope of Eshima Ohashi is just a bit over six degrees. When you drive on it, you don’t feel like you’re on a roller coaster, even though that’s how it’s sometimes described on social media.
Seen up close, the bridge appears much more gentle, and driving on it is easy—even for new drivers.
@hecticnick This bridge doesn’t make sense 🤯 #illusions #fyp ♬ STAY – The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
Still, the TikTok video drew huge attention, with more than ten million views in just a few days. Sometimes all it takes is a clever camera angle to spark a global conversation.
Did the illusion fool you at first? Have you seen this bridge before or driven on something similar? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to know what you think of the Eshima Ohashi and this surprising viral moment!
