Driving the highway through a building in Japan

Driving the highway through a building in Japan

Japan, asia

Length

239 km

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: you're cruising through downtown Osaka, Japan, and suddenly you see it – the Gate Tower Building! This isn't your average office block. It's a 16-story marvel with a wild secret: the Hanshin Expressway *literally* goes right through it!

Yep, the highway blasts through the 5th, 6th, and 7th floors of this 71.9-meter tall building. It’s like something out of a sci-fi movie, but totally real. Built in 1992, this was the first building in Japan to pull off this kind of architectural stunt. The expressway, a 239km loop around Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, is supported by its own structures, so the building isn't actually holding up the road. It's a mind-blowing design where the road passes right on through, creating a gap in the building.

Where is it?

Driving the highway through a building in Japan is located in Japan (asia). Coordinates: 36.8102, 138.1093

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Road Details

Country
Japan
Continent
asia
Length
239 km
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
36.8102, 138.1093

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