Saruhashi (Monkey Bridge) — Ōtsuki
Saruhashi
Cantilever bridge without piers · Ōtsuki City (manager) · Ōtsuki, Yamanashi, Japan
Photo: Aimaimyi / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), dated 13 August 2011. Full photograph shown.
Saruhashi spans the Katsura River gorge in Ōtsuki without piers, held up by tiers of cantilever beams pushed out from both cliffs. It is 30.9 m long and about 31 m above the river, and is counted among Japan’s three unusual bridges. Yamanashi tourism · National Diet Library Checked
4 things to know
- No piers at allThe gorge was too deep for piers, so the bridge rests on layers of cantilever beams set into both banks. National Diet Library · Yamanashi tourism Checked
- Steel inside, wood outsideSince the 1984 restoration, steel girders carry the load, clad in wood to keep the old look. Wa-raku · Wikipedia Checked
- Older than the recordsYamanashi Prefecture says the building date is unknown, but a 1487 travel account already mentions the bridge. Yamanashi Prefecture Checked
- A bridge of monkey talesLegend says monkeys linked their bodies across the ravine and a builder copied them. Yamanashi tourism Reported
Check-in guide
- 📍
- Saruhashimachi, Ōtsuki, Yamanashi, over the Katsura River on the old Kōshū Kaidō. Ōtsuki tourism (DMO) · Yamanashi tourism Checked
- 🏞️
- A national Place of Scenic Beauty since 25 March 1932, managed by Ōtsuki City. Yamanashi Prefecture Checked
Sightings
- 193225 Mar
Designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty
- 1984
Restored in 1984
- 201113 Aug
Photo of the bridge
- 20197 Mar
Spot introduction · Ōtsuki DMO
- 20256 Aug
Compared with Hokusai’s print · Wa-raku
Green stamps are dated photographs and official records; amber stamps are news reports and visitor guides. The status stamp follows the newest dated source, 6 August 2025.
On the record
Hokusai’s compositions shine: Saruhashi in Yamanashi and Kintaikyō in Yamaguchi
“橋脚を立てず、刎木（はねぎ）や肱木（ひじき）という特殊な構造で架けられた甲斐（かい）の猿橋（さるはし）。”
“Kai’s Saruhashi, built without piers using a special structure of hanegi and hijiki beams.”
The facts
- Size
- 30.9 m long, 3.3 m wide. Yamanashi tourism Checked
- Height
- About 31 m above the river. Yamanashi tourism Checked
- Restoration
- Restored in 1984 Tabi-mag; rebuilt in steel and clad in wood to keep its old look. Wa-raku · Wikipedia Checked
- Designation
- National Place of Scenic Beauty, 25 March 1932. Yamanashi Prefecture Checked
- Manager
- Ōtsuki City. Yamanashi Prefecture Checked
- Earliest record
- Mentioned in a 1487 travel account; the first building date is unknown. Yamanashi Prefecture Checked
- Ranking
- One of Japan’s three unusual bridges. National Diet Library · Wikipedia Checked
Related
- Japan Doesn’t Build Boring Bridges (12 Photos): the SAU collection that includes this bridge.
All sources (8)
Official and reference
- Yamanashi Prefecture cultural property page, 1932 designation, manager, 1487 record
- National Diet Library: Saruhashi, cantilever structure, three unusual bridges
- Yamanashi tourism: Saruhashi Bridge, size, height, legend
- Ōtsuki DMO: Saruhashi, location
- Wikipedia: Saruhashi Bridge, c. 1756, 1984 steel girders
Articles
- Tabi-mag: Saruhashi, 1984 restoration
- Wa-raku, 6 August 2025, Hokusai comparison
Photos
- Wikimedia Commons: Saruhashi -01.jpg, Aimaimyi, 13 August 2011, CC BY-SA 3.0
Artwork File · Last checked 9 November 2026 · Certainty labels follow How We Verify Art · All Artwork Files