Chichibu Bridge, Steel bridge in Chichibu City, Japan

Chichibu Bridge is a single-span cable-stayed bridge over the Arakawa River, completed in 1985. Its 40-metre inverted-Y concrete pylon stands on the left bank, with six pairs of cables fanning to a steel box girder and four back-stay cables anchored in the terrace cliff. The deck runs at about 45 degrees to the river channel.

The first bridge was built here in 1885, followed by a second version in 1930, before the current structure was completed in 1985. This progression reflects how the location adapted to growing transportation needs across more than a century.

The bridge earned the prestigious Tanaka Award from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers, recognizing its engineering excellence and structural design.

The bridge sits near Ohnohara Station and carries vehicle traffic today, while older sections are also open to people on foot. The area is easy to explore on foot, and several viewpoints let you observe the structure from different angles.

The first bridge's stone piers still stand in the river, not on the bank. Two granite name pillars, found in the riverbed during the 1985 foundation work, are displayed in the Chichibu Bridge Pocket Park on the left bank.