Yoshida Bridge, Iron bridge in Yokohama, Japan.
Yoshida Bridge links Bashamichi district with Isezaki-cho and Yoshida-cho neighborhoods by crossing over a modern highway in central Yokohama. The structure has two traffic lanes and a pedestrian walkway that intersects with Isezaki Mall and provides access to nearby underground shopping.
Built in 1869, the structure was Japan's first iron truss bridge without central supports, replacing an earlier wooden version from 1859. Though reconstructed several times, it proved resilient during the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake when many nearby buildings fell.
The bridge reflects Yokohama's period of rapid modernization when new connections became essential for commerce and growth. Its design shows the city's embrace of industrial development during the early Meiji years.
The bridge is easily accessible on foot with a dedicated pedestrian walkway that connects directly to nearby shopping areas. Note that the walkway gets crowded during peak hours, so it is better to cross during quieter times of day.
The bridge still displays decorative railings from its original era and is one of few places in Yokohama where you can see early iron construction techniques from the Meiji period. These details are especially valuable for those interested in engineering history, showing how builders of that time worked with new materials.
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