The famous Shinkyō bridge (神橋) in Nikkō, or Sacred Bridge. It is considered one of the three most beautiful bridges in Japan and is a World Heritage site. It leads to Futarasan jinja (二荒山神社), which is a part of the many shrines and Temples of this area.
Unfortunately there aren’t a lot of places to take photos of this. Basically the road on either side. I wasn’t there at a good times of day so the light wasn’t good, and the sky wasn’t interesting. Oh well! Still an attractive bridge. But needless to say, much more amazing in person. I was only in this area for a few hours, so I only allowed myself a few minutes at this bridge. If I ever get to this place again I’ll allow myself more time to take better photos.
There is a fun story about this bridge. Let’s look at it.
Legend of the Sacred Bridge
It is said that in the year 766, the priest Shōdō (勝道上人) and his followers wished to climb the mountain to pray for national prosperity. When they came to the fast-flowing Daiya River, however, they couldn't manage to get across. They prayed for help and a 10-foot god named Jinja-ou (深沙王) appeared with two snakes twisted around his arm, a red one and a blue one. He released them and they transformed into a rainbow bridge covered with sedge which Shōdō and his followers could use to cross the river. For this reason, the bridge is sometimes called Yamasugano-jabashi (山菅の蛇橋)—Mountain Sedge Snake Bridge.
In Art
As you might expect with such a famous bridge, it has long been featured in Japanese art. Here are two of my favorite woodblock prints of the bridge.
This is the only know triptych of the Nikko bridge (it’s been stitched together in this photo). It is from a series showing the customs and manners of the Tokugawa at Chiyoda (Edo) castle. Here the Tokugawa men are crossing the bridge for some official Shogunate ritual.
The Current Bridge
But that bridge of legend is not the one in the photos. The current bridge dates to 1636. It was rebuilt when Ieyasu’s tomb was set in this area in the famous Nikkō Tōshōgū (日光東照宮). It was destroyed by a flood in 1902, but was rebuilt in 1904.
It was off-limits to the public for most of it’s history. As with many of these things in Japan, the only people who were allowed across were samurai of the most powerful clans and other religious officials. These days the public is allowed across, but you have to pay a toll (it’s only ¥300).
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David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. |
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very nice story, the truth is that just seeing the bridge and the river transmits a tremendous peace.
Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you enjoyed it 😃
!PIZZA
Japan has some interesting mythical stories. A God came down with snakes wrapped around his hand and made the bridge, WOW!
Dude, these are good shots. I like the contrast with the sky lighting and the dark water. But yeah I understand, more time would = even better shots. Nikko is such a calming place, nature just seems a bit more surreal there.
300 yen to cross the bridge, haha, I guess it has to be maintained somehow.
haha yeah, some of the myths here are pretty wild, aren't they? I took several world myth courses at university, and Japanese myths are right up there among the craziest.
Thanks for the compliment 😃 As many photographers, I am probably too critical of my own shots.
!PIZZA
That's one of my biggest regrets: not having visited Japan in my life. I've always wanted to walk the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Do you know of it?
Yeah, the Shikoku Pilgrimage is on my bucket list! Probably not something that's going to be possible for me until the kids get older and/or I retire, but it is something I want to do eventually.
Well, there's always still time. I know a lot of folks here who say the same, about travel regrets, but then they become travel machines after they retire. Hope you can make it here someday!
!PIZZA
Thanks for the PIzza!!!
Here check this fantastic blog out. A gentleman by the name of David walked the Pilgrimage early 2010s. Fantastic information all around:
https://randomwire.com/japan/shikoku
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