Sanjō Ōhashi

Sanjō Ōhashi (三条大橋) is a bridge in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It spans the Kamo River as part of Sanjō-dōri (三条通り Third Avenue). It is well known because it served as the ending location for journeying on both the Nakasendō and the Tōkaidō; these were two of the famous "Five Routes" for long-distance travelers during the Edo period in Japan's past.

2015

Sanjō Ōhashi in the 1830s, as depicted by Hiroshige in The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō

History

It is unclear when this bridge was first built, but there are records of Toyotomi Hideyoshi orders for it to be repaired in 1590, as well as one of the original giboshi (擬宝珠) (onion-shaped posts that are located on bridges, shrines and temples in Japan). A historical marker on the southwest side draws attention to a cut on one of the giboshi, speculating that it was made by a sword during the Ikedaya incident (the inn was located close by).

The current concrete bridge, which includes two lanes for driving and a walking path on either side, was built in 1950.

Neighboring post towns

Nakasendō & Tōkaidō

Ōtsu-juku - Sanjō Ōhashi (ending location)

References

Media related to Sanjō Ōhashi at Wikimedia Commons