Taushubetsu Bridge, Abandoned railway bridge in Kamishihoro, Japan
Taushubetsu Bridge is an abandoned railway viaduct in Lake Nukabira in Kamishihoro, Hokkaido, with concrete arches spanning 130 meters and reaching eleven meters in height. The row of arches forms a regular chain that now runs across the water without tracks or operating equipment.
The viaduct opened in November 1939 to carry the Shihoro line through remote terrain. After World War II the route was relocated higher, and the flooding of the valley turned the old alignment into a lake ruin.
Railway enthusiasts visit the ruin as evidence of the early transport routes that once opened up the island. The name Taushubetsu comes from the Ainu language and recalls that the region was originally inhabited by an indigenous people.
Guided excursions reach the site from late spring to early fall when the lake water level is low enough. Check visibility in advance, as seasonal water shifts strongly affect access.
The reservoir water level rises and falls so much during the year that the arches are sometimes fully hidden and in other months lie dry. This coming and going has earned the ruin the nickname 'phantom bridge.'
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