Ryōgoku Bridge, Historic bridge in Higashi-Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan
Ryōgoku Bridge crosses the Sumida River and links Higashi-Nihonbashi to Ryōgoku with a steel structure carrying walkways on both sides. It extends for roughly 165 meters and carries National Route 14, an important east-west corridor through Tokyo.
The first structure appeared in 1659 after the Great Fire of Meireki to ease access between both banks of the river. The current steel structure dates to 1932 and replaced the earlier wooden bridges that stood at this spot.
The name translates as "bridge between two provinces" and recalls the old boundary between Musashi and Shimōsa that ran through here. Today people use the walkways on both sides to reach the sumo stadium or the restaurants and shops along the riverbank.
The bridge remains open around the clock and allows pedestrians a clear view of both riverbanks and the surrounding buildings. On sunny days the crossing offers a clear view upstream and downstream along the Sumida.
Metal globes crown the posts along both railings and come from the 1932 renovation that gave the structure its present appearance. These rounded tops are now listed as a protected architectural feature of Tokyo.
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