生地中橋, Rotating bridge in Kurobe, Japan.
The Ikuji-naka Bridge (生地中橋) is a rotating bridge at the entrance to Kurobe Fishing Port in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. The entire structure turns horizontally on hydraulic cylinders to allow fishing boats to pass through the harbor entrance.
The bridge was first built as a vertical-lift bridge in 1961 and converted to a rotating system in 1982. This change made it easier to manage vessel traffic at the harbor entrance.
The bridge was recognized in 2006 as one of Japan's 100 historical cultural properties of fishing villages. This status reflects how closely it is tied to the daily life of local fishermen and the identity of the harbor community.
The bridge operates around the clock and is managed from a control room nearby. Visitors hoping to see it rotate should come in the early morning, when fishing boats are most likely to be entering or leaving the port.
The rotation system uses a cantilever design, with the pivot point placed on one side rather than at the center. This means the longer arm swings out over the water in a wide arc, which requires an open water area on one side to complete the turn.
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