Australian Tourist Demands Rp45.3 Billion in Compensation After Falling from Shichizai Bridge

Shichizai Bridge in Hakodate, Japan, has long been established as one of the most popular spots for tourists to enjoy scenic views and take photographs. This destination is now the subject of a formal legal lawsuit however, after an Australian tourist filed for 400 million yen — approximately 45.3 billion Indonesian Rupiah — in compensation following an accident they suffered in May 2025.

The lawsuit against the Hakodate City administration, Hokkaido Prefecture was formally submitted on 1 October 2026. The 66-year-old Australian tourist asserts that the safety railings on Shichizai Bridge are excessively low and dangerous, and that this condition directly contributed to the accident.

As reported by News on Japan on 2 October 2026, the tourist slipped and fell from the bridge. The incident caused severe spinal injury that resulted in full permanent paralysis of both the victim's arms and legs.

The central point of dispute in the lawsuit concerns the railing height of the bridge. Records confirm the railings on Shichizai Bridge stand at only 56 centimetres, well below the 110 centimetre minimum safety standard mandated by Japan's national government.

Legal representatives for the claimant argue this measurement demonstrates failure to properly manage and maintain the public infrastructure. They state the unsafe railing condition was a material contributing factor to the fall and the resulting life-changing injuries.

The 400 million yen compensation demand is calculated to account for the permanent physical disability, lost quality of life and ongoing care costs resulting from the accident.

Hakodate City Government has not released any official statement regarding the case, advising that formal notification of the lawsuit has not yet been received by their administration.

Separately from the legal proceedings, Shichizai Bridge remains part of Hakodate's core tourist precinct. It is situated close to the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, a protected Historic Precinct and one of the city's most visited landmarks.

The bridge overlooks the heritage warehouse district, Hakodate port and the surrounding coastal hills. Its distinctive architecture and the atmosphere of the site have made it one of the most popular photography locations in the city.

Hakodate holds significant ancient geographic and cultural history. According to official Hakodate Travel documentation, the land the city occupies originally formed as a separate volcanic island, before connecting to the mainland peninsula via a natural sand spit that formed approximately 3000 years ago.

This unique land formation shaped the entire development of the settlement. Multiple intact Jomon Period archaeological sites also remain within modern Hakodate, including the Minamikayabe site whose hollow ritual clay figurines are designated as a Japanese National Treasure.

Hakodate developed into the modern Tourist City it is today following the Second World War. One of its most famous international attractions is Mount Hakodate, whose public cable car service commenced operation in 1958.

From the summit of Mount Hakodate visitors can view the famous night-time city panorama, the flagship attraction of Hakodate. This view is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful city night sceneries in the world.