Kanrei Dōmon, Rock shed in Hakone, Japan.
Kanrei Domon is a rock protection shed made of reinforced concrete, built along a steep mountain road in Hakone, Japan, to shield travelers from falling rocks. The shed runs along the Hayakawa River and forms part of the old Route 1, a historic mountain passage through Kanagawa Prefecture.
The Kanrei Domon was built in 1931, during a period when Japan was expanding its road network through difficult mountain terrain. After decades of use, it was taken out of service and received protected status in 2014.
The Kanrei Domon shows how road builders in 1930s Japan turned to concrete to solve the dangers of mountain travel along steep slopes. Visitors can still see the original structure, which was shaped directly by the challenging terrain of Hakone.
The structure sits along the old Route 1 in a hilly part of Hakone, and it can be reached on foot via the historic Tokaido trail. Sturdy shoes are a good idea, as the ground around it is uneven and the slope is steep.
The Kanrei Domon is considered one of the earliest uses of reinforced concrete for road protection in the Japanese mountains. Although the road is no longer in use, the construction remains largely as it was when it was first built in 1931.
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