Nishinomiya Shrine Zuiho Bridge

A Granite Arched Bridge Donated by a Sake Brewer

The Nishinomiya Shrine Zuiho Bridge (西宮神社瑞寶橋) is a granite arched bridge built in 1907 at Nishinomiya Shrine in Shakecho, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, which in 2013 was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a stone girder bridge 5.5 metres long and 2.5 metres wide with parapets, altered in 1922, registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.

The Agency reads the name as Suiho-bashi, while the shrine and Nishinomiya City use Zuiho-bashi.

Structure

According to the Agency, it spans the sacred pond in front of the shrine buildings, directly facing the worship hall, and is an arched bridge for festivals made of Rokko granite, known as mikage stone.

Paving stones are laid in seventeen equal divisions over curved stone girders, with bronze railings, a carefully made bridge.

What to Look For

The shrine says it was donated in 1907 by Tatsuuma Etsuso, founder of the Hakutaka sake brewery, and that Tatsuuma Etsuzo, carrying on his wish, completed the arched stone bridge with bronze railings in 1922. The shrine calls Etsuzo the second generation, while the Japan Heritage portal (Nishinomiya City) calls him the third.

The Japan Heritage portal includes it in a story about sake, as a stone bridge given by a Nishigo brewer to the shrine that symbolises Nishinomiya as a sake town.

Visiting

It is a ceremonial bridge and can be viewed from within the grounds.

The shrine's history, the layout of the grounds, directions and opening hours are on the Nishinomiya Shrine group page.