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Saruhashi Bridge is a cantilever bridge spanning the Katsura River in Saruhashi, Saruhashi-cho, Otsuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture. A cantilever bridge refers to a structure where the bridge is supported by wooden beams projecting diagonally from both banks.
Saruhashi Bridge has been depicted in works such as Utagawa Hiroshiges Koyo Saruhashi no Zu and Jippensha Ikkus Shokoku Dochu Kane no Waraji, and has been beloved by many people since the Edo period. In 1932, it was designated as a National Scenic Beauty. The current bridge was faithfully restored in 1984 based on documents from 1851.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 24 hours |
| Closed | None |
| Admission | Free |
| Parking | Free parking along Route 20 (18 spaces). When crowded, Saruhashi Park parking is available (about 10 min walk to bridge via promenade) |
| Nearest Station | About 15 min walk from JR Chuo Main Line Saruhashi Station |
| Address | Saruhashi - cho, Otsuki City, Yamanashi 409 - 0614 |
| Official Site | Saruhashi Bridge - Otsuki Tourism Association |
Saruhashi Bridge is a wooden bridge measuring 30.9m in length, 3.3m in width, and 31m in height. Without using any bridge piers, it is supported by four layers of cantilever beams projecting from both banks. This unique structure is said to have been inspired by the way monkeys linked together like a bow to cross to the other side, as the valley was too deep to build piers.
Due to this unusual structure, Saruhashi Bridge is counted among Japans Three Unusual Bridges. While there are various theories about which bridges comprise the three, Saruhashi is typically listed alongside Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Kiso no Kakehashi in Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture. Among these, Kiso no Kakehashi no longer exists, making Saruhashi Bridge valuable as the only remaining wooden cantilever bridge in Japan.
Saruhashi Bridge spans the deep and beautiful Katsura River gorge. Looking down from the bridge reveals scenery as beautiful as a painting. We also recommend enjoying the clear waters of the Katsura River from atop the bridge.
The bridge visible right next to Saruhashi is called Shin-Saruhashi (New Saruhashi). This is a vehicular bridge, and today it is primarily used for daily transportation.
Adjacent to Saruhashi Bridge stands the Yatsuzawa Power Station Facility First Aqueduct Bridge, designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Built in 1912, it is the largest reinforced concrete single-arch bridge of its kind in Japan.
The Yatsuzawa Power Station Facility is a hydroelectric power station facility along the Katsura River, spanning Otsuki City and Uenohara City in Yamanashi Prefecture. Completed in 1914, it is known as one of Japans earliest full-scale hydroelectric power facilities.
The First Aqueduct Bridge was constructed to carry the waterway from Yatsuzawa Power Station to the Ono Regulating Pond. With a total length of 42.7m and an arch diameter of 30m, this single-arch bridge achieved an impressive span length for its time. The arch section also features saw-tooth decorations, demonstrating excellent ornamental design.
The First Aqueduct Bridge holds significant value in civil engineering history. The technology that achieved such a large span length for an early reinforced concrete bridge was groundbreaking for its era. The decorations on the arch are also valued as symbols of modernization progress.
The First Aqueduct Bridge serves as a valuable tourist spot where visitors can experience the history and technology of hydroelectric power generation.
Saruhashi Bridge enjoys beautiful surrounding scenery, with maples, Japanese maples, and ginkgo trees coloring the landscape in autumn, their vibrant foliage enhancing the gorge beauty.
Saruhashi Bridge has been beloved by many people since the Edo period. There are also facilities around the bridge that display materials and exhibits related to Saruhashi.
Please visit Saruhashi, one of Japans Three Unusual Bridges.
