The name Saruhashi translates literally to 'Monkey Bridge', derived from a legend that monkeys linked their bodies together to form a bridge across the gorge.
Its structural design is known as 'hanegi-zukuri', utilizing cantilevered beams that anchor into the cliff sides.
The bridge appeared in Utagawa Hiroshige’s famous 'Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces' woodblock print series.
The gorge beneath the bridge features basalt columns formed by ancient volcanic activity.
It is considered one of Japan’s 'three peculiar bridges' alongside Kintaikyo in Iwakuni and Shinkyo in Nikko.
Saruhashi is a historic cantilever bridge spanning 31 meters across the Katsura River gorge in Otsuki, Yamanashi. It is uniquely constructed without central pillars, relying on four sets of wooden girders layered into the rock faces on either bank. The bridge sits 31 meters above the water surface. It has been designated a Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government. The current structure is a 1984 reconstruction modeled after historical designs documented in the Edo period. The bridge is famous for its distinct arched shape and is one of three 'strange bridges' in Japan. It served as a vital crossing point on the Koshu Kaido, an important feudal road connecting Edo to Kofu.
From the trail on the riverbank looking up to capture the full cantilevered profile against the sky.
Walk the trail leading down to the riverbank for an upward perspective of the cantilevered beams.
Bring comfortable walking shoes to navigate the stone steps and sloped paths surrounding the gorge.
Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby Mt. Iwadono trail if you enjoy hiking.
Attempting to walk on the river rocks directly beneath the bridge, as the area can be slippery and prone to water level changes.
