Megane Bridge
Located over Nakashima River in Nagasaki, Megane Bridge is a stone bridge with two arches. It is 22 meters (24 yards) long, 3.6 meters (4 yards) wide, and 5.46 meters (18 feet) high. The size makes Megane Bridge a rather small construction.
Built in 1634, it is one of the oldest arched stone bridges in Japan. It is one of the three most famous bridges in Japan as well. The other two are Nihonbashi and Kintai Bridge. Megane Bridge has another story: when the water level is low, you can go down to the riverside through stairs and try to find the heart stones embedded in the bank. It is said those stones can bring good luck, happiness and eternal love to you.
Part of Megane Bridge fell down in 1982 due the floods. The next year, after the restoration, it was put into a list of Japan’s most important culture heritages.
The Day View of Megane Bridge
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The Story of Its Name
From a distance, the reflection of Megane Bridge on the river and two semicircles of the bridge’s arches together look like a pair of glasses, which is why it got the name of Megane Bridge, literally meaning Glass Bridge. The special shape makes it a popular photo spot.Recommended Visit Time and Activity:
It’s recommended that you spare one hour or two to visit Magane Bridge.|
Megane Bridge at Night
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Though tourists can pay a visit to Megane Bridge at any time of a day, the best visit time is around sunrise or sunset, when the bridge and its reflection in the water are more attractive than usual. Besides, make sure you come in a windless day when there’s no ripples on the water so that you can take clear and perfect photos of the “pair of glasses”. If you happen to come here in the evening, the night scene of Megane Bridge is also stunning with dazzling lights around.
Special Times to Pay a Visit:
15th in First Lunar Month
Every year on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar calendar, which is around late February to early March in Gregorian calendar, Megane Bridge will be decorated with lots of different lanterns and people will get together to celebrate Lantern Festival. Chinese people in the Chinatown around Megane Bridge brought Lantern Festival here. The view of the bridge at the night of Lantern Festival will be much more glorious and spectacular than usual.Several Periods in August
In the first ten-day period of August and weekends among last ten days, night markets are held on the banks of Nakashima River. People in Nagasaki has developed their own custom since the Edo period (1603-1867) to show gratitude to Nakashima River for its important transportation role. The fiesta starts around the sunset. Visitors will get a unique experience of being part of local life weaving through the vendor’s stands in the market, which sell snacks of Japanese flavor and presents of Japanese style.|
The Night View of Megane Bridge
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