Nihonbashi

Nihonbashi: The Bridge at the Heart of Japan

Standing quietly over the Nihonbashi River in Tokyo's Chuo Ward, Nihonbashi — literally "Japan Bridge" — is far more than a river crossing. Designated as a National Important Cultural Property in 1999, this elegant stone double-arch bridge has served as the symbolic center of Japan's road network for over four centuries. From its origins as a wooden bridge in the early Edo period to its current form as a masterpiece of Meiji-era engineering and artistry, Nihonbashi embodies the living history of Tokyo itself.

First constructed in 1603 by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo shogunate, Nihonbashi was designated as the starting point of the Gokaido — the five major highways that connected Edo (present-day Tokyo) with the rest of Japan. This role as the nation's road origin point continues to this day, with a bronze plaque reading "Origin of Roads in Japan" embedded in the center of the bridge.

A Bridge Rebuilt Twenty Times

The history of Nihonbashi is one of resilience and renewal. Since its first construction in 1603, the bridge has been rebuilt approximately twenty times due to fires, floods, earthquakes, and the natural wear of its wooden structure. During the Edo period, the surrounding area flourished as the commercial and cultural heart of the city, with bustling fish markets, textile shops, and ukiyo-e print publishers lining the streets.

The current bridge — the twentieth incarnation — was completed on April 3, 1911, during the Meiji era. Replacing an earlier Western-style wooden truss bridge built in 1873, the new stone bridge was designed to meet the demands of modern transportation while embodying the prestige befitting Japan's road origin point. The structural design was led by engineer Yonemoto Shin'ichi under the supervision of Tokyo City's Bridge Division Chief Kabashima Masayoshi.

Why Nihonbashi Is Designated an Important Cultural Property

In 1999, Nihonbashi was officially designated as a National Important Cultural Property (Building), recognizing its outstanding significance as a representative stone-arch road bridge from the Meiji period. The designation acknowledges both its technical excellence and its remarkable artistic design.

The bridge spans approximately 49 meters in length and 28 meters in width, featuring two stone arches with a span of about 21 meters each. The structure uses carefully cut granite from multiple quarries across Japan, including Inada, Kabasan, Kitakijima, and Tokuyama. The walls are constructed using a precise cut-stone masonry technique, with gracefully curved wing walls at each end.

What truly sets Nihonbashi apart, however, is its extraordinary decorative program — a harmonious fusion of Renaissance bridge architecture with Japanese and Chinese artistic motifs that was unprecedented in its time.

The Art of Nihonbashi: Kirin, Lions, and Bronze Splendor

The bridge's decorative scheme was conceived by Tsumaki Yorinaka, one of the three great architects of the Meiji era, who also designed the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. Tsumaki served as decoration consultant, creating a design philosophy that sought to achieve harmony with the bridge structure, dignity befitting the capital's premier bridge, symbolic meaning as the national road origin point, and elegance rooted in Japanese aesthetic sensibility.

All decorative elements are crafted in bronze, and their production was entrusted to the Tokyo Fine Arts School (now Tokyo University of the Arts), with Associate Professor Tsuda Nobuo serving as production chief.

The Calligraphy of the Last Shogun

Adding a poignant historical layer, the bronze nameplates on the bridge pillars bear the inscription "Nihonbashi" in the calligraphy of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the fifteenth and final shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. This commission was made by Ozaki Yukio, then Mayor of Tokyo, who wished to preserve the spirit of the Edo era on the new Meiji bridge — a touching gesture connecting the old and new eras of Japanese history.

Restoring Blue Skies: The Expressway Removal Project

Since 1963, when the Metropolitan Expressway was built directly above Nihonbashi in preparation for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the bridge's view of the sky has been obscured by concrete overpasses. For decades, this has been a source of regret for many who cherish the bridge's historical significance.

A transformative project is now underway to relocate the expressway underground. The approximately 1.1 kilometers of elevated highway above the Nihonbashi River will be replaced by an underground tunnel. The underground route is scheduled for completion around 2035, with the full removal of the overhead expressway expected by 2040. When complete, blue skies will once again be visible from Nihonbashi for the first time in over 75 years — a landmark moment for Tokyo's urban landscape.

This massive undertaking is part of a broader urban renewal initiative designated as a National Strategic Special Zone project, combining infrastructure renewal with neighborhood revitalization to create the "Nihonbashi River Walk," a new waterfront promenade along the restored riverbanks.

Exploring the Nihonbashi Area

The district surrounding Nihonbashi is rich with cultural landmarks, many of which are themselves designated Important Cultural Properties. Within walking distance of the bridge, visitors can explore:

• Bank of Japan Headquarters — Designed by Tatsuno Kingo and completed in 1896, this magnificent Western-style building is a designated Important Cultural Property. Free guided tours are available with advance reservation.
• Mitsui Memorial Museum — Housed within the Mitsui Main Building (also an Important Cultural Property), this museum displays the Mitsui family's extraordinary collection of tea utensils, paintings, and decorative arts, including National Treasures.
• Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. — A department store building from 1933 designated as an Important Cultural Property — the first department store in Japan to receive this distinction. Monthly guided architectural tours are available.
• Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store — Japan's first department store, evolved from the legendary Echigoya textile shop founded by the Mitsui family in the Edo period.
• Currency Museum, Bank of Japan — A free museum chronicling the history of currency in Japan, located in an annex of the Bank of Japan.
• Nihonbashi River Cruise — Board a sightseeing boat from the landing beneath the bridge for a unique water-level perspective of Nihonbashi and the surrounding historic waterways.