Here in Niigata, Japan, we can see what may well be the world’s largest football! Presumably it’s a gas tank of some sort – can anyone translate the japanese?

It’s likely that this ball was decorated for the 2002 World Cup, as some of the games were held at the nearby 42,300 seater Niigata “Big Swan” Stadium, so named for the super-cool roof, which apparently represents the wings of a resting swan.

Thanks to Jerome.

This is the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge in Japan – the largest suspension bridge in the world. Suspension bridges are measured by the length of their main span (i.e. the longest distance between suspension towers), and the Akashi-Kaikyo has an absolutely massive central span of 1991 metres – the longest bridge span in the world in fact.

Actually, it used to be 1990 metres but was stretched a full metre in the Kobe earthquake of January 17, 1995.

The bridge has a total length of nearly 4 kilometres, was completed in 1998 and cost around 5 billion US dollars to build – unfortunately it seems that the bridge toll is so high that most drivers still prefer to use the ferries. Oh well.

More info on the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge is available over at Wikipedia, where they also have a comprehensive list of the longest suspension bridges in the world.

Thanks to Jonathan Louie, belola, Trey Hunner and Kevertje.

Opened just last year on a specially built man made island Centrair International Airport is Japan’s third off-shore airport and is shaped like a capital “D” so that currents inside the bay will flow freely around the island. The airport’s opening coincided with the 2005 World Expo in Aichi so you should be able to follow the tram line all the way to the Expo site.

If you browse around the site there’s quite a few things to see, including a Plane taking off, the Control Tower, a Giant Apple and some shellfish farms.

Thanks: Emnikufesin, Ben Ehlers

Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, was designed by Kenzo Tange to house a gymnasium, basketball court and Olympic swimming pool for the 1964 Summer Olympics. His futuristic tent-like design later inspired the architect behind the 1972 Olympic Park in Munich.

Thanks to Simon Madine.

The Japanese Imperial Palace is called Kokyo and is regarded as the heart and soul of Tokyo. The Imperial Palace is located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the centre of Tokyo, a short walk from Tokyo station.

As the residence of Japan’s Imperial Palace the buildings and inner gardens are not open to the public, except the Emperor’s Birthday (December 23rd) and New Year’s Greeting (Today, January 2nd).

Wikipedia has a Palace map showing the various buildings and gardens.

Thanks: Bill Kendrick, Nels Nelson, Sarah Larios, Planck, gc, Andrew, Andy & Jerry Mills