{"id":3894,"date":"2025-09-18T17:26:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T08:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fujieda-life-trip.com\/?post_type=toukaidou-shukuba&p=3894"},"modified":"2025-09-18T17:26:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T08:26:06","slug":"sannjo-bridge","status":"publish","type":"toukaidou-shukuba","link":"https:\/\/fujieda-life-trip.com\/en\/toukaidou-shukuba\/sannjo-bridge\/","title":{"rendered":"No.54To Sanjo Ohashi Bridge \u2015 Walking from Yamashina to Kyoto’s Goal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The journey along the Fifty-Three Stations of the T\u014dkaid\u014d is finally nearing its end. After passing Otsu-juku, the destination is the goal: Sanj\u014d \u014chashi Bridge. After walking about 490 kilometers from Edo for dozens of days, this bridge is where travelers finally arrive. Walking this section yourself, you can experience both the excitement of \u201cKyoto is almost here!\u201d and the reality of \u201cThere’s still a mountain pass ahead?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time, I strolled leisurely along the route from Yamashina to Sanj\u014d \u014chashi, visiting the remaining historical sites and road markers. It’s a route where you can imagine the feelings of travelers long ago while enjoying the overlap with the present-day streetscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Entrance to Yamashina \u2015 Tokurinji Temple and the Yamashina Canal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Passing through Otsu-juku and heading toward Kyoto, you first enter the Yamashina area. Located here, Tokurin-ji Temple is not a large temple, but it is a serene temple remaining along the Tokaido. Passing through the mountain gate, you are enveloped in quietness, creating an atmosphere that makes you want to rest a bit during your journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelers of old likely stopped at temples like this to pray or receive water. More than a tourist attraction, it’s a temple rooted in the community, making it a place where you can truly feel the reality of travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And when it comes to Yamashina, you simply can’t miss the Yamashina Canal. A branch of the Lake Biwa Canal, it was a vital waterway connecting Kyoto and Shiga during the Meiji era. Highlights include brick tunnels and stone aqueducts, offering glimpses of modern architectural charm. The cherry blossom-lined path is especially beautiful in spring, making it even more enjoyable when you choose the right season to walk it. Though travelers of the Edo period never knew this modern landscape, for us walking here today, it’s a place where we can feel the \u201cconnection to history.\u201d I also visited the canal in \u014ctsu, but the sound of water is truly soothing~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hinooka Pass \u2015 The Last Pass Road on the T\u014dkaid\u014d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now, onward to Hinooka Pass. This area strongly evokes the remnants of the old Tokaido Road. After passing through a gently rolling mountain path, a stone marker stands by the roadside reading \u201cOld Tokaido Road: Hinooka Pass Route.\u201d For travelers, these road markers were true guides, offering a sense of security itself. To us today, they might seem a bit simple, but for people back then, they were probably more reliable than GPS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But man, this pass was tough~. I rented a bike to go, and the next day my muscles were sore and swollen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…The road was narrow too\ud83d\udca6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Crunchy pickled plums for heatstroke prevention<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yummy~<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Continuing further up this steep pass brings you to the \u201cHio Pass Human and Horse Path Monument.\u201d This stone monument commemorates the path once traveled by people and horses, telling the story of transportation history. The very phrase \u201chuman and horse path\u201d feels quintessentially Tokaido, doesn’t it? Men pulling large carts, horses carrying loads on their backs, and traveling pedestrians. Stopping here, images of such comings and goings come to mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Around Awata-guchi \u2015 Where light and shadow coexist at Kyoto’s entrance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you pass through Hinooka Pass, the city of Kyoto finally draws near. From here begins the Awata-guchi area. Once the eastern gateway to Kyoto, it’s also a place steeped in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, the famous site is the \u201cAwata-guchi Execution Grounds.\u201d During the Edo period, this was where executions took place. Travelers passing through must have felt mixed emotions here. Now, only a monument stands, but the contrast between the brightness of the saying \u201cCross this point, and you’re in the capital of Kyoto\u201d and the shadow of the execution grounds feels quintessentially Tokaido.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just nearby is the \u201cBukk\u014dji Temple Main Hall.\u201d Rather than a grand temple, it has a quiet presence; stopping by for a moment when you’re tired from walking helps calm your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time I got here, my T-shirt was soaked through with sweat\u2014I could wring it out\u2014so I cooled off here for a bit lol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And don’t forget Awata Shrine. Perched on a small hill, many travelers must have prayed here for safe journeys. I actually didn’t know this, but it’s still known as the \u201cGod of Swords\u201d and seems to be a sacred spot for sword enthusiasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe that’s why… there were quite a few foreigners there, you know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ryoma, Oryo, and Mitsuhide<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And scattered around Awata-guchi are spots that history buffs simply can’t resist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One is the \u201cSite of Sakamoto Ryoma and Oryo’s Wedding Ceremony.\u201d Ryoma and Oryo held their ceremony here and set off on what is said to be Japan’s first honeymoon. Standing before this historic site, one can’t help but imagine the smiles that must have graced their faces here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u6b74\u53f2\u306b\u758e\u3044\u50d5\u3067\u3082\u660e\u667a\u5149\u79c0\u306f\u77e5\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3089\u3001\u3061\u3087\u3063\u3068\u30c6\u30f3\u30b7\u30e7\u30f3\u4e0a\u304c\u308a\u307e\u3057\u305f\u306d\u7b11\u3002
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\u4e09\u6761\u901a\u306b\u51fa\u308b \u2015 \u767d\u5ddd\u6a4b\u3068\u5e73\u5b89\u795e\u5bae<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u8857\u4e2d\u306b\u5165\u3063\u3066\u304f\u308b\u3068\u3001\u4e09\u6761\u901a\u306b\u5408\u6d41\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002\u3053\u3053\u306b\u3042\u308b\u306e\u304c\u300c\u4e09\u6761\u901a\u767d\u5ddd\u6a4b\u9053\u6a19\u300d\u3002\u9053\u6a19\u3063\u3066\u30b7\u30f3\u30d7\u30eb\u306a\u3093\u3067\u3059\u3051\u3069\u3001\u6614\u306e\u4eba\u305f\u3061\u304c\u300c\u3053\u308c\u3092\u983c\u308a\u306b\u6b69\u3044\u305f\u3093\u3060\u306a\u300d\u3068\u601d\u3046\u3068\u30b0\u30c3\u3068\u304d\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And as a little detour, I also made my way over to Heian Shrine. But this place is HUGE\u203c\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The massive vermilion torii gate looms right before you\u2014a truly imposing sight to appear at the end of a journey along the T\u014dkaid\u014d. Built in the Meiji era, it was unknown to Edo-period travelers, but for us modern-day walkers, it’s a landmark that makes you feel, \u201cI’ve arrived in Kyoto!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Goal: Sanjo Ohashi Bridge \u2015 A Traveler’s Dream Destination<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And finally, we arrive at Sanj\u014d \u014chashi Bridge. It marks the end of the Fifty-Three Stations. Still standing proudly today, its form spanning the Kamo River is truly a symbol of Kyoto. At the foot of the bridge stand the statues of Yaji and Kita, humorously marking the journey’s end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What must travelers in the Edo period have felt when crossing this bridge? The joy of finally reaching Kyoto? The relief of ending their long journey? Or perhaps the bittersweet thought, \u201cNow I must return to Edo\u201d? Standing here today, we can feel a small connection to those feelings of the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…But Kyoto is packed with foreign tourists, and just walking around a bit leaves me utterly exhausted…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The stretch from Otsu-juku to Sanjo Ohashi Bridge was a section packed with history and scenery, truly fitting as the final leg of the Tokaido.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Yamashina, we gazed upon the modern irrigation canal; at Hinooka Pass, we truly felt the hardships of travel; at Awata-guchi, we touched upon a history of light and shadow. And finally, the goal at Sanj\u014d \u014chashi Bridge. Walking it (well, cycling, but still), it felt less like a mere \u201cend point\u201d and more like one of the T\u014dkaid\u014d’s true highlights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I imagine travelers in the Edo period crossed this bridge with hearts full of emotion. For us walking it today, it was a route that let us savor just a little bit of that same feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n