Japanese Bridge

The Japanese Bridge is a Buddhist temple and covered bridge in Hội An, Vietnam, spanning a small branch of the Thu Bon River. Its timber frame rests on brick pillars and is topped by a gabled roof with traditional tiles.

Japanese merchants funded the work in the 17th century to link their settlement with the Chinese quarter. Later repairs introduced Vietnamese elements and altered the original appearance.

The structure houses a small Buddhist shrine inside, dedicated to the northern guardian deity and still visited by locals today. Wooden carvings of a dog and a monkey stand watch at opposite entrances, marking the zodiac years when construction began and ended.

Access is available daily from morning to evening, with entry tickets sold at both ends of the crossing. The walk through is short and easy, though the interior space is narrow.

The crossing appears on the Vietnamese 20,000 dong banknote and merges building styles from three countries. Its architecture displays Japanese carpentry, Chinese roof design, and Vietnamese ornamentation within a single structure.

Location: Hội An

Length: 18 m

GPS coordinates: 15.87719,108.32597

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:25