Furobashi Bridge

This stone bridge was completed in 1851, and today it is part of the nationally designated cultural property (Place of Scenic Beauty) “Waka-no-Ura,” and is also designated as a cultural property of Wakayama City. While its structure is simple, take note of the attention to detail, including the arched abutments and the cloud-pattern reliefs on the railings. Arched stone bridges from the Edo period are extremely rare outside Kyushu, with few comparable examples. It also features “Izumi sandstone,” familiar from the stone walls of Wakayama Castle, and greenish-gray “green schist,” found only along the south bank of the Kino River, used in the stonework of the embankment.

The bridge was built as the “Onari Road,” used by the domain lord, members of the Tokugawa family, and those connected to the Kishu Toshogu Shrine during its festival rites (Waka Festival), and it is said to have been constructed under the orders of Tokugawa Harutomi, who governed the Kishu Domain at the time, by inviting a highly skilled group of stonemasons from Higo Province (present-day Kumamoto Prefecture).

Thanks to its sturdy construction, it’s still in use as active infrastructure more than 170 years later. You can cross it yourself, or step back a bit to appreciate its sculptural beauty. Enjoy it your own way and experience the appeal of this historically significant spot.