Harimayabashi Bridge, Stone bridge in downtown Kochi, Japan
Harimayabashi is a stone structure measuring 20 meters in length at the center of Kochi, equipped with railings and solid walkways. Below the street crossing lies an underground passage with display panels about the city's past.
The crossing originated in the Edo era when two merchant families built a private way across the river to link their shops. Over the centuries the structure was rebuilt multiple times, with each version reflecting the building style of its period.
The name combines the surnames of two merchant families from the Edo period who once ran their businesses here. Today visitors often hear the Yosakoi song that tells of a Buddhist priest and his forbidden love at this crossing.
The site serves as a central transit point where streetcar and bus lines meet. The underground level provides shelter from rain and allows a dry crossing to the opposite side of the street.
Four different versions were erected at the same location over time, each showing a different building style. The current form sits higher than the original construction because the river course below was filled in.
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