HOKKAIDO, Apr 28 (News On Japan) - The "phantom bridge," a Hokkaido heritage site in the Tokachi region known for appearing and disappearing with the seasons, has begun drawing visitors again in 2025 as its elusive form grows increasingly fragile.
Lake Nukabira in Kamishihoro, Hokkaido, is home to the Tauushubetsu River Bridge, an arch structure that emerges from the forest after a 15-minute walk and evokes the image of ancient Roman ruins. Once part of the old Japan National Railways Shihoro Line, the bridge is now registered as a Hokkaido heritage site. A local guide explained that around 1955, the area was transformed from dense forest into a lake by clearing all the trees.
On April 26th, marking the start of the long holiday season, guided tours to the bridge resumed. Visitors from Sapporo described the scene as dreamlike, while a tourist from Fukuoka, who had long wished to see the bridge after encountering its photo, expressed concern about its deteriorated state and questioned whether it would last another year. Tourists can only approach the bridge closely during this season, as the rising water levels of the artificial Lake Nukabira will soon submerge it once again, reinforcing its nickname, the "phantom bridge."
Jun'ya Uemura of the Higashi Taisetsu Nature Guide Center noted that the bridge is held together by only a thin layer of cement and gravel, with no reinforcing steel. Built in 1937 without using precious iron during a chaotic prewar period, the bridge has steadily decayed, suffering minor collapses every year. Uemura added that the bridge’s fragile, fleeting existence, along with the skill and effort of the craftsmen who built it 90 years ago, continues to captivate visitors drawn to its fading beauty.
Source: HBCニュース 北海道放送
