Tonegawa River Railway Bridge

The Tonegawa River Railway Bridge is a steel structure spanning 753 meters across the river to connect Kazo and Koga. The design combines robust metal framework that carries trains daily across the water, supporting regular service on the Joban Line.

The bridge opened in 1886 as part of Japan's rapid railway expansion during early industrialization. Its completion helped establish better connections between the Kanto region's growing cities.

The bridge links two communities and serves as a daily connector in people's routines. It represents how infrastructure shapes where residents work and live, making it woven into local life rather than just a passage.

The bridge carries trains on the Joban Line running at regular intervals between the two city centers. Visitors can view it from various spots along the river or ride a train to experience crossing it directly.

Building it required engineering approaches that were advanced for the time to cross such a wide river, representing an achievement in early Japanese technology. The structure has continuously supported train traffic for more than 130 years without major replacement.

Location: Kazo

Location: Koga

Inception: June 1886

Official opening: June 17, 1886

Length: 753 m

GPS coordinates: 36.14786,139.70092

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:05