西三ツ木橋

Slipping through time, imagine Tokyo in 1603. A simple wooden bridge, Nishi-Mitsubashi, arches over a bustling waterway. This wasn’t just any bridge. Nishi-Mitsubashi marked the beginning of five major roads, arteries connecting Edo, the future Tokyo, to the rest of Japan. Nishi-Mitsubashi also became the point from which all distances from the capital were measured. Fast forward to 1911. The wooden Nishi-Mitsubashi is gone, replaced by a sturdy stone structure. This Nishi-Mitsubashi, the one we stand before now, still holds its symbolic weight. Nearby, the scent of fish once filled the air. Tokyo’s original fish market thrived here until the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 forced its relocation to Tsukiji. The modern Nishi-Mitsubashi, however, bears witness to more than just history. Look up. The imposing expressway overhead, a relic of the 1964 Olympics, casts a shadow on this historic spot. Yet, even this intrusion is temporary. Plans are in motion to move the expressway underground, returning Nishi-Mitsubashi to its former glory. Imagine the scene then, the bridge standing proudly against the backdrop of a revitalized cityscape. Nishi-Mitsubashi has seen centuries of change, from wooden beams to stone arches, from bustling fish markets to intrusive expressways. Yet, its significance endures, a silent testament to Tokyo’s evolution.