Tsujun Bridge

Kumamoto

Castles & Historic Sites

# Historic Site

# Bridge

# Scenic View

# National Treasure

The massive stone arch of Tsujun Bridge aqueduct, dramatically discharging a huge waterfall of water into the valley below on a sunny day.

A group of people in traditional red and black farming attire planting rice in a muddy paddy beneath the large stone arch of Tsujun Bridge.

An indoor stage performance of a traditional Japanese Shinto dance (Kagura), featuring dancers in white robes and a banner that reads "Kyushu Mountain Kagura Festival."

A wide shot of a modern building and distant lights under a dark night sky filled with countless stars.

A person kayaking on a calm river surrounded by forested mountains displaying early autumn colors.

Key Points

Built in 1854 at approximately 78m long, 21m high, one of the largest stone aqueduct bridges of the Edo period
Unique among stone aqueduct arch bridges for its dramatic release of water
Designated an Important Cultural Property in 1960 and elevated to a National Treasure in 2023

Tsujun Bridge, completed in 1854, is a masterpiece of Japanese stone engineering. Built to carry irrigation water to the isolated Shiraito Plateau (Kumamoto Prefecture), it channels water from the Sasahara River through an ingenious stone-pipe system that uses water pressure to push the flow uphill across the gorge.
The bridge’s scale is remarkable: approximately 78 meters in length, 21 meters in height, and with a 28-meter arch span, it is one of the largest stone aqueducts of its time. Unlike other stone bridges, Tsujun Bridge can perform a spectacular release of water, designed to flush sediment from the pipes.
Despite damage from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake and later heavy rains, the bridge has been carefully restored, and its water release resumed in 2020. Today, it continues to irrigate roughly 100 hectares of terraced rice fields, an enduring symbol of Edo period innovation and community effort.
Nearby, you can also explore the Tsujun Bridge Museum to learn more about the history and the workings of the bridge. Designated an Important Cultural Property in 1960, the bridge was later designated a National Treasure in 2023.

Information

Spot information including address, access, and website
Address	Nagahara, Yamato-cho, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto
Access from Tokyo	(1) From Tokyo Station, take the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi to Hakata Station (approx. 4 hr 58 min). (2) At Hakata Station, transfer to the Kyushu Shinkansen Sakura to Kumamoto Station (approx. 38 min). (3) At Kumamoto Station, transfer to the Hohi Line Local to Minami-Kumamoto Station (approx. 6 min). (4) From Minami-Kumamoto Station, walk to the Minamikumamoto bus stop (approx. 2 minutes). (5) From Minamikumamoto bus stop, take the M3-2 bus (bound for Tsujunsanso) to Tsujunkyo Mae (approx. 1 hr 33 min). (6) From Tsujunkyo Mae, walk to the Tsūjun Bridge (approx. 6 minutes). Show route from Tokyo Station