The Bridges of the Shimanto River

The Shimanto River has 47 chinkabashi, low concrete bridges built without railings and intentionally designed to be submerged during seasonal floods, letting water and debris flow over rather than battering the structure. Many were built by local communities in the 1930s through 1950s to connect villages on opposite banks. The most photographed is Iwama Chinkabashi, framing a wide river curve with a white pebble beach in front. Sada Chinkabashi, at 291.6 meters, is the longest and closest to Nakamura town. Standing on any of them puts you at water level, with views of fishing traps and passing boats.