A Brick Tunnel under the Line
The Iga Railway Ota Arch Bridge (伊賀鉄道小田拱橋) is a stone and brick bridge of 1916 in Otacho, Iga City, Mie Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 4, 2021 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a stone and brick structure 6.2 metres long and 8.9 metres wide; registration number 24-0289.
A Brick Passage under the Track
The Iga Railway Ota Arch Bridge stands about 250 metres south of the Ota No. 2 Culvert. Below the track runs a brick tunnel 8.9 metres long and about 3 metres wide; its portals are of cut stone, with only the arch laid in four rings of brick and a granite block set at the crown like a keystone (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
According to Iga City, the lower walls are six courses of cut stone, and local people call the passage "Manbo".
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes that it is still a well-loved local road and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the cut-stone portals and the granite keystone at the crown of the brick arch (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Iga City (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The four registered structures of the line are introduced together on the Iga Railway page. It is still used as a local road (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official visiting information was found.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In 1916 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is it like?
- A brick tunnel 8.9 metres long under the track, with cut-stone portals.
- What should I look for?
- The granite keystone at the crown of the brick arch.
- Does it have a nickname?
- Local people call it "Manbo" (Iga City).
- When was the Iga Railway Ota Arch Bridge registered?
- On February 4, 2021 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Iga Railway Ota Arch Bridge (伊賀鉄道小田拱橋) |
|---|---|
| Location | Next to 1187-3 Otacho, Iga City, Mie Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2021/02/04 (Reiwa 3) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Stone and brick; 6.2 m long, 8.9 m wide |
| Owner | Iga City |
| Public Access | Used as a local road (no official visiting information) |
References
- Iga Railway Ota Arch Bridge (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00013566
- Cultural properties of Iga: the Iga Railway (Iga City newsletter, Japanese)
- https://www.city.iga.lg.jp/cmsfiles/contents/0000010/10300/028-029.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.21
