Preserving Hokkaido’s Lost Wartime Bridge

Nov 04, 2025 | News On Japan

HOKKAIDO, Nov 04, 2025 (News On Japan) - Local authorities in Shari, a town in Hokkaido, are seeking donations to preserve and promote an old Japan National Railways bridge that has been registered as a national tangible cultural property.

The striking structure once consisted of ten arches. The Koshikawa Bridge over the Ikushina River was part of the former JNR Nehoku Line and remains the largest concrete railway bridge in Hokkaido.

Completed in 1940 as part of a military railway project, the bridge was never used by trains before the end of the war. Two of its piers were later dismantled when a national highway opened.

The bridge’s design is notable for using no reinforcing steel, a rarity among concrete structures. However, trees have taken root along the top, raising the risk of collapse. Ahead of the winter snowfall, workers recently carried out removal of the overgrown vegetation.

The Shiretoko Museum is now calling for donations to cover the cost of tree removal and preservation efforts, as well as to fund initiatives to promote the historical value of the bridge for future generations.

Source: 北海道ニュースUHB

Google Opens Flagship Store in Tokyo's Omotesando

Google opened its first flagship store in Japan in Tokyo's Omotesando district at 2 p.m. on August 13, marking the company's first flagship retail location outside the United States.

The Unseen Reality of Kumamoto Quake Survivors

Fifteen days after the Kumamoto earthquake, restoration of electricity and transport infrastructure is progressing, but thousands of people are believed to remain outside official shelters, while rising construction costs and interest rates are creating new challenges for rebuilding homes and restoring livelihoods.

Jellyfish-Like Red Glow Lights Up Kanagawa

A mysterious red light stretching vertically across the night sky over Kanagawa Prefecture has been identified as a rare "sprite," a brief luminous phenomenon that occurs high above thunderclouds at roughly the same time as powerful lightning strikes.

Awa Odori Dancers Fill Tokushima Streets

Street performances began across Tokushima on August 12 as the city's Awa Odori festival entered its second day, with leading dance groups showcasing graceful routines after months of practice.

Newly Formed Typhoon No. 17 Could Near Kanto by Weekend

A large new typhoon formed near the Ogasawara Islands on August 12 and could approach Honshu around the end of the Obon holiday period, while the remnants of Typhoon No. 15 continue to bring unstable weather and a risk of heavy rain across a wide area of Japan.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

ANA Cuts Fuel Surcharges on International Flights

All Nippon Airways said on August 12 that it will lower fuel surcharges added to international airfares for tickets issued from September, following a temporary easing in fuel prices after a sharp rise linked to worsening conditions in the Middle East.

Customs Officers Shocked to Find 200 Rare Lizards in Socks

A 23-year-old Mexican national has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to smuggle endangered lizards into Japan after customs officers at Haneda Airport discovered about 200 reptiles concealed inside 22 pairs of socks.

Awa Odori Dancers Fill Tokushima Streets

Street performances began across Tokushima on August 12 as the city's Awa Odori festival entered its second day, with leading dance groups showcasing graceful routines after months of practice.

Newly Formed Typhoon No. 17 Could Near Kanto by Weekend

Typhoon No. 15: Heavy Rain Risk Remains in Kanto

Typhoon No. 15 continued moving west across central Japan on August 12, but heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms remained a threat far from the storm's center, with intense rainfall reported in parts of Tokyo and damage including fallen and broken trees in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures.

Typhoon No. 15 Triggers Level 4 Storm Surge Warning

Typhoon No. 15 approached the Kinki region on the morning of August 12 before weakening into a tropical depression over the Sea of Japan, but authorities are warning that sudden thunderstorms and heavy rain remain possible across the region.

Japan Reinvents the Summer Festival

Summer festivals are in full swing across Japan, with distinctive local dances ranging from long-established traditions to unusual routines born at fishermen's banquets and even performances set to the music of American rock band Bon Jovi.

Tokaido Shinkansen Runs First Overnight Service

The Tokaido Shinkansen operated its first overnight service ahead of the Obon holiday period, offering travelers a 15,000 yen trip from the Tokyo area to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka while allowing them to save on hotel costs and arrive earlier than the first regular morning trains.

< 2 3 4 5 >