Meganebashi Bridge
眼鏡橋
A double-arched stone bridge built in 1634 under the direction of the monk Mokushi Nyojō. Its reflection forms the shape of eyeglasses, and it is one of Japan's earliest stone arch bridges.
Meganebashi spans the Nakajima River in the city centre. It was built in 1634 under the direction of Mokushi Nyojō, the second abbot of Kōfuku-ji, a monk who had come from China. It is one of Japan's oldest stone arch bridges and is designated an Important Cultural Property of the nation. Its two semicircular stone arches form a pair of eyeglasses in their reflection on the water, which gives the bridge its name. During the 1982 Nagasaki flood, part of the bridge was washed away, and it was later restored using the original stones. Several heart-shaped stones are set into the riverbank walls nearby, a popular little treasure hunt for couples and tourists. The Nakajima River has many other Edo-period stone bridges that you can stroll across one by one. Nearby Teramachi Street has Chinese-style temples such as Kōfuku-ji and Sōfuku-ji. The gate and main hall of Sōfuku-ji are both National Treasures. Admission is free, and it can be viewed at any time of day. Getting there: take the streetcar to Kōkaidō-mae or Meganebashi stop, then walk about 3 minutes.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Kofuku-ji Temple
- Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture
- Sofuku-ji Temple
- Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
- Suwa Shrine
- Dejima
- Tojin Yashiki Site
- Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum & Mizubenomori Park