Megane Bridge is a masterpiece that brings together the best of railway technology among the buildings constructed during the Meiji period.
Combining the best technology of the time, it was born as one of the largest four-row arches in Japan.
Currently, it is a popular tourist spot in Gunma Prefecture as a promenade called “Apt no Michi” that uses the ruins of an abandoned railway line.
This time, we will take a closer look at Gunma Prefecture’s Megane Bridge, Japan’s largest four-arch masterpiece that brings together the best of railway technology.
Meganebashi is a railway bridge located in Matsuida-cho, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture.
The official name is “Usuidaisankyoryo”.
The location is approximately in the middle of Usui Pass.
It was originally built as one of the bridges between Yokogawa Station and Karuizawa Station on the Shinetsu Main Line.
The place where Megane Bridge is located is a great place to view the autumn leaves, and is one of Gunma Prefecture’s standard autumn leaves spots.
This bridge is characterized by its beautiful brick construction, and with 2,028,000 bricks used, it is one of the largest brick bridges in Japan.
It is 91m long, 31m high, and has a four-arch structure.
However, the section between Yokogawa Station and Karuizawa Station of the Shinetsu Main Line, commonly known as the Usui Line, which crosses the Usui Pass, will be discontinued on September 30, 1997.
The reason is that new transportation networks such as the Usui Bypass, expressways, and Shinkansen trains have been established, and the number of users of the Usui Line has decreased.
The Usui Line, which has now been abandoned, will be reborn as a new tourist spot in Gunma Prefecture as a promenade called “Apt no Michi.”
➁Megan Bridge History.
Click here to learn more about the history of Meganebashi.
❶Designated as a national important cultural property.
Megane Bridge was designated as a national important cultural property in August 1993.
The reason for this designation is that the construction technology of the Usui Pass Railway Facilities (including Megane Bridge) was recognized for its significant contribution to the development of modern industry in Japan.
Currently, five of the bridges built on the former Usui Pass Railway facility remain, from Bridge 2 to Bridge 6.
All of them are designated as important cultural properties of the country.
❷Construction began in April 1899 and was completed in December.
Megane Bridge is an arch bridge whose construction began in April 1897 and was completed in December.
Foundation work he began in April 1892.
The pier section was completed in September of the same year.
After that, bricklaying begins around the arch area.
Megane Bridge was completed in December of the same year.
The Usui Line was opened the following year in 1893.
➂Megane Bridge Attractions.
Here we will introduce the sightseeing spots of Meganebashi in detail.
❶Apt road.
Abt-no-michi is a promenade that utilizes the former Abt railway and the abandoned Shinetsu Main Line.
Specifically, it is about a 6km course between Yokogawa Station and Old Kumanodaira Station on the Shinetsu Main Line.
It takes about 2 hours one way and about 4 hours round trip.
It is now a popular hiking course.
The route of the Apt road is as follows.
| Yokogawa Station ⇒ Usui Pass Railway Culture Village ⇒ Usui Sekisho Ruins ⇒ Maruyama Substation Ruins ⇒ Touge no Yu ⇒ Megane Bridge ⇒ Old Kumanodaira Station |
▲There are no railroad tracks now, but you can take a walk along the old abandoned railroad tracks.
❷Lake Usui.
Lake Usui is an artificial lake (dam lake) near Megane Bridge.
It is located approximately 5 minutes by car from Megane Bridge.
This is one of the hiking trails on Abt Road.
The best time to see the autumn leaves is from early to mid-November.
❸Old Kumanodaira Station.
Kumanodaira is the former Kumanodaira Station, and is the end and turnaround point of the Abt-no-Michi hiking course.
It used to be the place where the old line and the new line met.
Today, the dilapidated station building and abandoned railway tracks still remain, so you can enjoy a nostalgic atmosphere.
It is also used as a filming location for movies and dramas.
④Festivals and events around Megane Bridge.
Here we will introduce in detail the festivals and events around Meganebashi Bridge.
❶Abandoned railway walk event.
The Abandoned Line Walk is an event where people walk along the Yokogawa-Karuizawa section of the Shinetsu Main Line, which was discontinued on September 30, 1997.
The feature is a tour around abandoned railroad tracks. I think it’s worth participating because you can visit places that are normally off-limits.
This is a different route from the Abt road.
Annaka City Tourism Organization has been holding this event every year since October 14, 2018.
There are various types of abandoned railway walks, such as starting from the Yokogawa side, starting from the Karuizawa side, and walking only through tunnels.
The dates are mainly concentrated in November, and are held irregularly until around March of the following year.
⑤Access information to Megane Bridge.
Here you will find detailed information on how to access Megane Bridge.
❶Megane bridge address
The address of Megane Bridge (Usui Third Bridge) is “Sakamoto, Matsuida-cho, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture.”
❷Route from Tokyo to Megane Bridge by car.
| Tokyo ⇒ Nerima IC ⇒ Kanetsu Expressway ⇒ Fujioka JCT ⇒ Joetsu Expressway ⇒ Usui Karuizawa IC ⇒ Matsuida Myogi IC ⇒ Matsuida IC ⇒ Megane Bridge (Usui Third Bridge) |
❸Parking information around Megane Bridge.
There is a free parking lot that can park about 20 cars about 300m away from Megane Bridge.
However, please note that it gets full on holidays, so please be careful.
Summary.
This time, we introduced Gunma Megane Bridge, a masterpiece that brings together the best of railway technology and one of Japan’s largest four-row arches.
Meganebashi Bridge is one of the largest existing brick arch bridges in Japan.
Currently, it is called the promenade “Apt no Michi” and has become Gunma Prefecture’s number one tourist spot, visited by many tourists.
When you visit Gunma Prefecture, we highly recommend that you visit Meganebashi Bridge.
▲Megane bridge
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