曽束大橋

Have you ever wondered where two of Japan’s most famous Edo-era routes converged? Right here, at Sanjō Ōhashi in Kyoto, is where the Nakasendō and Tōkaidō, two of the “Five Routes,” met. Sanjō Ōhashi, spanning the Kamo River along Sanjō-dōri (Third Avenue), wasn’t just a bridge. It was a symbolic gateway, the final destination for countless travelers. Imagine weary travelers in the Edo period, finally reaching this point after weeks of arduous journeys. Sanjō Ōhashi would have been a welcome sight, a marker of the end of their long travels. The exact origins of Sanjō Ōhashi are shrouded in time. However, we know that Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered its repair in 1590. A surviving giboshi, an onion-shaped post often found on bridges, shrines, and temples, bears a scar, possibly from a sword slash during the Ikedaya Incident. This incident, a clash between samurai and shishi (political activists), took place at the nearby Ikedaya Inn. The bridge you see today isn’t the original structure. The current concrete bridge, with its two driving lanes and pedestrian walkways, was built in 1950. Sanjō Ōhashi remains a vital part of Kyoto, a testament to its rich history as a crossroads of travel and trade. As you cross this bridge, remember the countless travelers who have walked this path before you.