Drum Bridge at Kameidō Tenjin Shrine, Moon bridge at Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo, Japan
The Drum Bridge at Kameidō Tenjin Shrine is a crescent-shaped pedestrian and bicycle bridge with a pronounced curved design that creates a complete circular reflection in the water below. The structure connects different sections of the shrine grounds and remains accessible to visitors throughout the day.
The bridge was built during the Edo period as part of the shrine complex dedicated to the scholar Sugawara no Michizane. Its construction reflected the growing importance of the site as a spiritual destination in Edo-era Tokyo.
Students visit the bridge before exams, following a tradition that crossing it brings academic success. This habit shows how the structure has become woven into the daily life of people in the area.
The path across the bridge is level and easy to navigate, whether on foot or by bicycle. It is wise to move slowly to enjoy the surroundings and respect other visitors using the space.
The artist Utagawa Hiroshige depicted the bridge in a woodblock print from 1857, showing it alongside the Yuhi Mound. This artwork helped establish the bridge as a notable subject in Japanese visual culture.
Location: Tokyo
Address: 3-chōme-6-1 Kameido, Koto City, Tokyo 136-0071, Japan
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 08:30-17:00
Phone: +81336810010
Website: http://kameidotenjin.or.jp
GPS coordinates: 35.70220,139.82075
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04
Moon bridges form semicircles that reflect as complete circles in the water. These structures originated in East Asia and combine practical function with deliberate design. The constructions appear in public gardens, botanical spaces and historic landscapes from Japan to California. The collection includes examples from different countries and periods. In Tokyo, the Drum Bridge spans a pond in Golden Gate Park, while the bridge at Kameido Tenjin Shrine forms part of a traditional shrine complex. Dahu Park in Taipei and Rikugien Garden in Tokyo show further variations of this building form. In China, examples range from the Jade Belt Arch in Beijing to multi-arched structures like the Twenty-Four Arch Bridge in Yangzhou. The Anshun Lang Bridge in Chengdu and the Stone Moon Bridge in Suzhou document different regional building styles. The form spread beyond Asia into botanical gardens and park settings worldwide. In the United States, moon bridges appear at Kubota Garden in Seattle, the Huntington Library in San Marino, and as the Humpback Bridge in Virginia. The Japanese garden in Toulouse presents a European example, while Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand holds the southernmost variation. Taiko Bashi in Kanagawa and Sorihashi in Sumiyoshi rank among the most traditional Japanese versions. Each location demonstrates its own interpretation of this architectural form.
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