Taushubetsu River Bridge, Hokkaido

Concrete arch bridge’s appearance reflected on the lake surface is very beautiful

“Taushubetsu River Bridge” is a bridge located in Nukabira Lake in Kamishihoro Town, Hokkaido, and it appears only for a limited season. “Taushubetsu” means Ainu language “a river with birch trees”.
“Taushubetsu River Bridge” is a concrete arch bridge on the former Japanese National Railway Shihoro Line. It was used from 1939 to 1955. The dam (Nukabira Lake) created a new track, so the Taushubetsu River Bridge was abolished. Shiho line itself was abolished in 1987.
It is said that the arch bridge made of gravel and sand mined locally is gradually weathered as it sinks into the lake during the summer and collapses shortly.
The charm of the Taushubetsu River Bridge attracts not only railway fans but also a lot of people. Because it is in the dam, the concrete arch bridge’s appearance reflected on the lake surface is very beautiful, and you can enjoy various expressions from winter to summer. The fact that the time to see it is limited is one factor that people can attract. It is seen from around January to September when the dam’s water is low, it will sink to the bottom of the lake from around October, and it will not be visible. (The time to be seen varies depending on the year) Furthermore, the point that the bridge collapses due to aging may not be seen may also be a factor that people attract. In addition to the Taushubetsu River Bridge, you can also enjoy bridges and train stations of the former National Rail Shihoro Line, centering on Nukabira Lake. Some of them are collapsed, so none of them will be lost.
There is something to be aware of when visiting the Taushubetsu River Bridge. You can not approach the bridge from the observation deck on the other side. To see the bridge near, 1. participate in the tour, 2. go with the car with permission, 3. take measures against the brown bear and go for walking. These are the only methods. Please be careful.

Charms and Highlights of Taushubetsu River Bridge

The figure appears and disappears by a season

The “Taushubetsu-gawa kyouryou” (River Bridge) is the arched bridge made of concrete of 130 meters in length completed in 1937.
It emerges from the frozen surface of a body of water of the Nukabira-ko dam from January and goes to the bottom of the lake from May when the water level rises and sets in the lake’s bottom in summer. The arched bridge that the figure appears and disappears by a season is only here in Japan. This is why it is said to be the bridge of the phantom.

The bridge is reflected in the surface of a lake

The Taushubetsu River Bridge’s water level rises by flowing into the water of melted snow of the Lake Nukabira after May. Because there is less wind than in the daytime, and a wave does not get up particularly early in the morning, the bridge is reflected in the surface of a lake, and since the bridge looks like a pair of glasses, they call it Meganebashi (Glasses Bridge).

The bridge shines in blue of the winter’s clear sky

It breaks the thick ice of Lake Nukabira that has begun to freeze in December and appear in January. You can go to see it with snowshoes transversely over the lake from that time. The bridge shines in blue of the winter’s clear sky and the white of the snowy field.

Shows its whole picture before “Golden Week”

The Taushubetsu River Bridge shows its whole picture before “Golden Week” (early-May holiday season in Japan). The water level of Lake Nukabira is the lowest in the year at that time. In the violent sandy area of the bottom of a lake, it shows the whole image. Seeing from a southside bank, the figure of snowy Mt. Nibesotsu adds glamour to its appearance.

Not be seen by time

The bridge goes below the surface of the lake’s water and may not be seen by time.

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