Ichinotogawa Bridge, Railway bridge in Kitakata, Japan
The Ichinotogawa Bridge is a railway bridge spanning 445 meters across the Ichinoto River valley at a height of 24 meters. It combines plate girder and truss construction techniques to achieve this long span.
It was built in 1910 during the Meiji period and was the largest stone structure of its kind in East Asia at that time. This early railway bridge played an important role in modernizing the Banetsu rail network.
The bridge forms part of the Banetsu West Line railway heritage sites, recognized by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers for its architectural and historical importance.
The bridge is accessible from Route 16 and parking is available at the Yamato Sports Center in Kitakata. Visitors can best view the structure from vantage points near the riverbank.
The central span uses the rare Baltimore truss design, found in only five bridges remaining in Japan. This specific construction pattern makes it a technically significant example of Japanese railway heritage.
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