Nine Small Arches on a Curve
The Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge (旧国鉄宮原線廣平橋梁, Hirodaira Kyōryō) is a nine-arch concrete railway bridge in the Nishizato district of Oguni Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, completed in 1937 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2004.
It crosses a valley in the Chikugo river system on nine arches of 7 metres each, 80 metres in all, and follows a curve. Of the Miyanoharu bridges that survive in Oguni, it is the one closest to the Oita border.
The first character, 廣, is the old form of 広, and some sources write the name as 広平橋梁. The Agency for Cultural Affairs gives the reading as Hirodaira.
Why Hirodaira Matters
The registration criterion is contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge as a large concrete structure whose 7-metre arches run in series across a farming valley, and sees it as a symbol of modernization reaching the mountains.
Seven metres is the smallest span among the seven bridges. Where most use arches of 10 metres, Hirodaira strings together many small ones, and the effect is completely different from the tall, narrow proportions of Sugenosako on the same line.
A long, low row of arches lying across a valley of rice paddies: this is what the phrase historic landscape looks like on the ground.
What to Look For
Stand back and follow the row of arches as it bends along the curve. With spans this small there are a lot of them, and the arcs set up a quick, even rhythm.
Look at the bridge together with the paddies below and it becomes clear why it was registered as part of a landscape. In the growing season the grey concrete reads like a pencil line drawn across green.
The civil-engineering survey Doboku Isan in Kyushu notes that it has weathered well since closure and keeps much of its original appearance.
Visiting
It lies outside the walking path the town maintains between Yu Station and the old Kitazato Station. The Japan Travel Bureau Foundation's survey notes that Konogawa and Kitazato are the two bridges easily reached on foot, so plan to come by car.
The town lists no parking or toilets for this bridge. The land around it is farmland and private property: stay on the road and do not walk into fields or onto the trackbed. There is no admission charge or booking. It is the farthest of the seven from Kitazato village, so allow extra time.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Kumamoto
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge
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Q&A
- How do you pronounce the name of the Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge?
- Hirodaira. The character 廣 is the old form of 広, and the name is sometimes written 広平橋梁.
- How many arches does the Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge have?
- Nine, each spanning 7 metres, for a total length of 80 metres.
- When was the Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge built?
- It was completed in 1937 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2004.
- Can I see the Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge from the walking path?
- No. It lies outside the maintained path, so drive there and view it from the road.
- Where is the Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge?
- In Aza Nakao, Oaza Nishizato, Oguni Town, Kumamoto Prefecture. It is the Miyanoharu bridge in Oguni closest to the Oita border.
Basic Information
| Name | Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge |
|---|---|
| Location | Aza Nakao, Oaza Nishizato, Oguni Town, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2004/2/17 (Heisei 16) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | 9-span concrete arch bridge, 80 metres long |
| Owner | Oguni Town |
| Public Access | Exterior only (view from the road) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003919
- Cultural Heritage Online: Former JNR Miyanoharu Line Hirodaira Bridge
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/194919
- Doboku Isan in Kyushu: Hirodaira Bridge (Kyushu Regional Development Association)
- https://dobokuisan.qscpua2.com/heritage/kumamoto/kum12_kouhira/
- Concrete arch bridges of the former JNR Miyanoharu Line (Japan Travel Bureau Foundation)
- https://tabi.jtb.or.jp/res/430298-
Last verified: 2026.09.25
