Nagarebashi, officially known as Kouzuyabashi, is a 356.5-meter-long bridge crossing the Kizu River. It is one of the longest wooden bridges in Japan. The name "Nagarebashi" means "a flowing bridge" in English. Sometimes the river experiences a significant water level rise by heavy rain, especially in a typhoon season. Instead of resisting the water flow, the bridge is designed to flow along with it. Of course, it’s not completely washed away. Its walkway naturally gets separated into several parts, and they drift apart from the bridge and float on water, but they’re connected to the bridge piers by wire ropes, actually. To return the washed-away parts to their original positions on the piers, you can pull up the ropes. This is a bridge that adapts to the natural conditions around the river, rather than resisting them.
The wooden bridge has a charming and nostalgic atmosphere. It has been used as a filming location for many historical films and TV shows.
Right beside the bridge, you can see tea plantations. It’s a great place where fertile soil is naturally carried by the river. This area is famous for producing high-quality tea. To ensure the safety of residents, the embankment was strategically constructed to circumvent the tea plantations. It’s a wonderful place to feel the culture of Yawata. The Nagarebashi and the surrounding tea plantations are a part of the Japan Heritage (Japanese Tea: Eight Centuries of Tradition), certified by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
- Tel
- Commerce, Industry and Tourism Section of the Yawata City Office: 075-983-2853
Agriculture, Commerce and Industry Section of the Kumiyama Town Office: 075-631-9964 - Address
- Kozuya Miyamaekawabata, Yawata City, Kyoto - Sayama Hamadai, Kumiyama Town, Kyoto
- Access
- -From Iwashimizu-hachimangu Station (Keihan Main Line), take the Keihan Bus for about 14 minutes. Get off at Kozuya Nagarebashi, and walk for about 9 minutes.
-From Iwashimizu-hachimangu Station (Keihan Main Line), you can also rent a bicycle at Yawata City Tourist Information Center, and ride it along the Kizu River.
-From Yodo Station (Keihan Main Line), take the Kyoto Keihan Bus for about 20 minutes. Get off at Sayama, and walk for about 10 minutes.
-From Okubo Station (Kintetsu Kyoto Line), take the Kyoto Keihan Bus for about 10 minutes. Get off at Sayama, and walk for about 10 minutes.