Togetsukyo Bridge

The Togetsukyo bridge over the Oigawa River in Arashiyama divides the river into two; the upper course is called the Hozugawa-River and the lower course is called the Katsuragawa River. The original bridge was built between 834 to 848 AD by a monk named Dosho. The bridge you see now at this current location, however, was built by Suminokura Ryoi, who was a wealthy merchant in the 1600s. He is credited with improving the waterways of the Hozugawa River and thus, greatly profiting from it. The bridge was named Togetsukyo, or "crossing moon.” The Emperor Kameyama is said to have been looking at the moon slowing moving over the bridge and musing, "It resembles the moon crossing into darkness.” The current bridge was completed in 1934 and although the pier and the supports are reinforced by concrete, part of the railing is made of wood so as to harmonize with the Kyoto scenery. Many tourist pamphlets about Kyoto and Arashiyama feature photographs of this bridge, as it is a symbol of the Arashiyama landscape.