Granite Piers over the Konaka River
The Watarase Keikoku Railway Konakagawa Bridge (わたらせ渓谷鐵道小中川橋梁) is a steel two-span girder bridge built in 1912 at Azuma-cho, Midori City, Gunma Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on November 2, 2009 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a steel 2-span girder bridge 40 metres long, with abutments and a pier, registration number 10-0288.
The Ashio Copper Railway
According to Watarase Keikoku Railway, the Ashio copper mine, bought by Furukawa Ichibei in 1877, grew to produce half of Japan's copper, more than horses and a horse tramway could carry, so a railway was built from Kiryu to Ashio. The Ashio Railway opened to Omama in 1911, reached Ashio in December 1912 and was completed to Ashio Honzan in 1914. Nationalised in 1918 as the Ashio Line, it has been run by Watarase Keikoku Railway since 1989.
The Watarase Keikoku Railway Konakagawa Bridge crosses the Konaka River about 1,400 metres west of the First Godo Tunnel (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Value as a Registered Cultural Property
The Watarase Keikoku Railway Konakagawa Bridge was registered as a structure contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records abutments and a spindle-shaped pier of finely coursed granite.
What to Look For
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes 60-foot plate girders of Dorman Long steel.
Watarase Keikoku Railway's pamphlet notes two deck girders on two abutments and one leaf-shaped pier of dressed stone; the whole bridge can be seen from Route 122 close to the station.
Visiting
The Watarase Keikoku Railway Konakagawa Bridge comes into view about three and a half minutes after Nakano Station on a Mato-bound train, and the whole bridge can be seen from Route 122 near the station (Watarase Keikoku Railway). Watarase Keikoku Railway notes that all of its registered structures can be seen from the train.
Do not enter the tracks; view it from the train, the station or nearby roads. It is located at Hanawa and Konaka, Azuma-cho, Midori City, Gunma Prefecture. Of the line's 38 registered structures, the 26 in Gunma and 11 in Tochigi are gathered on the group pages Watarase Keikoku Railway (Gunma Section) and Watarase Keikoku Railway (Tochigi Section).
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Gunma
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Watarase Keikoku Railway Konakagawa Bridge
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Q&A
- When was it built?
- In 1912 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How is it built?
- A steel 2-span girder bridge 40 metres long, with abutments and a pier (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What shape is the pier?
- Spindle- or leaf-shaped, of finely laid granite (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Watarase Keikoku Railway).
- Where can it be seen?
- The Watarase Keikoku Railway Konakagawa Bridge comes into view about three and a half minutes after Nakano Station on a Mato-bound train, and the whole bridge can be seen from Route 122 near the station (Watarase Keikoku Railway).
- When was the Watarase Keikoku Railway Konakagawa Bridge registered?
- On November 2, 2009.
Basic Information
| Name | Watarase Keikoku Railway Konakagawa Bridge (わたらせ渓谷鐵道小中川橋梁) |
|---|---|
| Location | Hanawa and Konaka, Azuma-cho, Midori City, Gunma Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2009/11/02 (Heisei 21) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Steel 2-span girder bridge, length 40 metres, with abutments and pier |
| Owner | Not listed in the national database (line operated by Watarase Keikoku Railway Co., Ltd.) |
| Public Access | Visible from the train |
References
- Watarase Keikoku Railway Konakagawa Bridge (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007861
- Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Watarase Keikoku Railway, in Japanese)
- https://www.watetsu.com/sightseeing/culture.php
- Pamphlet: Railway Heritage from the Train Window, map notes (Watarase Keikoku Railway, in Japanese)
- https://www.watetsu.com/assets/pdf/sightseeing/culture_yukei_des02.pdf
- History (Watarase Keikoku Railway, in Japanese)
- https://www.watetsu.com/company/history.php
Last verified: 2026.10.12
