- Culture
- Nara
Tanize Suspension Bridge
Stroll in the air along the longest everyday-use suspension bridge in Japan
The Tanize Suspension Bridge is a famous attraction of Totsukawa Village of Yoshino-gun, Nara Prefecture. The villagers hung the 297-meter-long, 54-meter-high bridge on their own in 1954, and today it is the country's longest suspension bridge used in everyday activities. Enjoy the thrill of crossing the swinging bridge as you gaze at the mountains along the gorge and the beautiful river flowing underneath the bridge, amazing scenery of Totsukawa that can only be found here.
History of the bridge: Constructed thanks to the villagers' contributions
An integral part of the residents' everyday lives, the bridge was only a log bridge up until 1954 and was washed away every time the river flooded. The troubled villagers of Tanize all contributed to build a large-scale suspension bridge. Each household funded around 200,000 to 300,000 yen; at a time when a schoolteacher's starting salary was 7,800 yen, this was quite a fortune. With their cooperation, the village was able to construct a huge bridge costing around 8 million yen, an extremely expensive project at the time.
History of the bridge: Spirit of mutual assistance among villagers
In an age when materials were not as abundant as today, the forefathers of Tanize contributed their fortunes in a spirit of mutual assistance. The toll-free bridge is open to anyone, embodying their humanity, and is still an essential part of people's lives as routes for school and commuting. Amazingly, the locals often travel this long and swaying bridge by bicycle or motorcycle. Every year on August 4, the bridge also serves as the venue for the "Swaying Taiko," a grand Japanese taiko drumming performance.
Location
| Name | Tanize Suspension Bridge |
|---|---|
| Website | https://www.visitnara.jp/venues/A00541/ |
| Address | 65-5 Uenoji, Totsukawa-mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara |
| Access | From JR Gojo Station, take the bus for Shingu via Totsukawa for approximately 1 hour 50 minutes, then get off at Uenoji bus stop. From Yamato-Yagi Station on the Kintetsu Railway, take the bus for Shingu via Totsukawa for approximately 3 hours, then get off at Uenoji bus stop. |
| Inquiries | TEL: 0746-63-0200 |