Toda Bridge, Transportation bridge in Itabashi-ku and Toda, Japan.
Toda Bridge is a steel structure that crosses the Arakawa River, connecting Itabashi-ku in Tokyo with the city of Toda in Saitama Prefecture. The bridge offers open passages for pedestrians and vehicles, with views of the river and surrounding areas.
The bridge was completed in 1875, replacing the previous ferry system that connected Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture. This connection enabled a more permanent and efficient link between the two regions.
The bridge serves as a gathering point for an annual fireworks festival in August, where thousands of fireworks light up the night sky above the river. Local residents and visitors gather here to enjoy this shared experience and watch the river from this elevated vantage point.
The bridge carries National Route 17 (Nakasendo) between Tokyo and Saitama, with sidewalks on both sides. Cycling on the roadway is prohibited, including on the approach sections, and signs at both entrances mark this. The bridge connects to the Kanenote viaduct on the north bank and the Funado viaduct on the south bank, descending gently to ground level below the levees.
The third bridge, completed in 1932, was called "Japan's most novel and beautiful bridge" and became a sightseeing spot. Its north main pillar stands in Toda Bridge Waterfront Park with three bullet marks said to have been made by US military police after the war; it was designated a Toda City tangible cultural property in 2014.
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