A Stone Bridge at Tanjoji Temple
The Muku Bridge (無垢橋) is a stone beam bridge by Tanjoji Temple of 1920 in Satogata, Kumenan Town, Kume District, Okayama Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on March 2, 2006 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a stone beam bridge 7.3 metres long and 2.6 metres wide; registration number 33-0104.
A Stone Bridge with Finial Railings
The Muku Bridge is a stone beam bridge over the stream south of the Tanjoji Temple precincts, built of a local granite with railings capped by onion-shaped finials (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Its beams span three bays in three rows, and the ends of the deck stones outside the railings are shaped to look like the cut ends of logs; a newel post bears the name of a stonemason from Takamatsu (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes the elaborate stonework, with deck ends shaped like log ends, and registered it as a structure that would not be easy to reproduce.
What to Look For
Look for the finial railings, the deck ends shaped like logs and the newel post carved with the mason's name (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Tanjoji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on visiting was found.
Q&A
- When was the Muku Bridge built?
- In 1920 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Where is it?
- Over the stream south of Tanjoji Temple in Kumenan, Okayama.
- What is it made of?
- A local granite.
- What is distinctive about it?
- The deck ends outside the railings are shaped like the cut ends of logs.
- When was the Muku Bridge registered?
- On March 2, 2006 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Muku Bridge (無垢橋) |
|---|---|
| Location | 808 Satogata, Kumenan Town, Kume District, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2006/03/02 (Heisei 18) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Stone beam bridge, 7.3 m long, 2.6 m wide |
| Owner | Tanjoji Temple |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Muku Bridge (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00005358
Last verified: 2026.10.19