The Omatsuyama Suspension Bridge is a 120 m long single span, two hinged bridge located near the top of Mt. Gagyu in Takahashi City. Bicchu Matsuyama Castle at the top of Mt. Gagyu is the castle with the highest elevation among mountain castles with a castle tower in Japan. Reflecting the recent boom of castle visiting around Japan, many tourists visit this castle, partly because it is possible to take picture of Bicchu Matsuyama Castle floating in a sea of clouds from late autumn to early winter.
Under these circumstances, the number of users of the Omatsuyama Suspension Bridge, which constitutes the promenade to Bicchu Matsuyama Castle, has been increasing, prompting work to inspect the bridge to establish the state of degradation and damage for its appropriate maintenance and also for the examination of countermeasures. This inspection uses the “rope access technique”, which allows safe and easy access to any kind of difficult or high places by means of skilful operation of the rope.