TochigiLeisure

Furukawa Bridge (Important Cultural Property)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: A Western-style building built by Furukawa Mining in the Meiji era, an exotic remnant amid the mountains

About 15 min from the previous stop

About 35 min here

About 10 min to the next stop

Next stop: Take a break at a retro mountain station house and soak in the charm of a gorge railway journey

About this spot

An iron bridge built in the Meiji era that served for many years as a transport route for the copper mine. Its steel truss structure stands out against the greenery of the gorge, making it one of the landmarks symbolizing Ashio's modern industrial heritage. From the foot of the bridge, you can look down on the upstream stream of the Watarase River, making it a good spot to take a break while listening to the sound of the flowing water. Combined with the copper mine tour and the Western-style buildings, it makes a fitting finale to a stroll tracing Ashio's modern history.

Tips

A few minutes by car from Kakemizu Club. The bridge itself may be closed to foot traffic due to aging, so viewing is mainly of the exterior. Some areas have uneven footing, so hold hands with small children while visiting.