Tsūjun Bridge — Yamato

💡 4 things to know

1. The spray is maintenanceOutlets near the centre release water to flush sediment and debris out of the stone pipes; the government’s Highlighting Japan calls it the only arched stone aqueduct with this function. Highlighting Japan (Government of Japan) Checked
2. Built over wooden framesBuilders set up wooden frames, laid the stones on them and made three stone water pipes; 41 stone technicians and many local farmers worked on it. Wikipedia Reported
3. Hit by a quake in 2026Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun reported in August 2026 that parts of the bridge’s attached “Okoya” structure had fallen in an earthquake; Nation Thailand listed the bridge among partly damaged National Treasures. Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun · Nation Thailand Reported
4. Discharge to restart, with limitsOn 12 August 2026 the paper reported that Yamato Town would restart the discharge on 13 August; no fallen or shifted stone walls were found, but viewing from the top of the bridge was suspended for the fiscal year for surveys. Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun Checked

📍 Check-in guide

🗓️ Sightings

1. 202028 Nov

   Water discharge photographed

2. 202316 Jul

   First discharge after the National Treasure recommendation · Kumanichi

3. 2023Sep

   Designated a National Treasure · Highlighting Japan

4. 20263 Apr

   2026 discharge season begins · Kumanichi

5. 20264 Aug

   Partly damaged in an earthquake · Nation Thailand

6. 202612 Aug

   Discharge to resume 13 Aug; bridge-top viewing paused · Kumanichi

Green stamps are dated photographs and official records; amber stamps are news reports and visitor guides. The status stamp follows the newest dated source, 12 August 2026.

📰 On the record

✅ The facts

Built

1854. Highlighting Japan (Government of Japan) · Wikipedia Checked

Planner

Futa Yasunosuke, chief of the Yabe area. Highlighting Japan (Government of Japan) Checked

Height

About 21.3 m. Highlighting Japan (Government of Japan) Checked

Length

About 78 m (Highlighting Japan) or 84.0 m (Wikipedia). Highlighting Japan (Government of Japan) · Wikipedia Conflicting We give the government figure first; the two may measure different parts of the structure.

Purpose

Irrigation water for terraced rice paddies on the Shiraito Plateau. Highlighting Japan (Government of Japan) · Tabi-mag Checked

National Treasure

Designated in 2023. Highlighting Japan (Government of Japan) Checked

Earlier damage

Leaks after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake and a partial wall collapse in heavy rain in 2018; discharges resumed in 2020. Highlighting Japan (Government of Japan) Checked

2026 earthquake

Partly damaged; discharge announced to resume on 13 August 2026. Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun · Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun Checked

🔗 Related

• Japan Doesn’t Build Boring Bridges (12 Photos): the SAU collection that includes this bridge.

All sources (9)

Official and reference

• Highlighting Japan: Tsūjun Bridge, September 2023; 1854, planner, height, discharge function, National Treasure, 2016 and 2018 damage
• Wikipedia: Tsūjun Bridge, construction, length 84.0 m

News

• Kumanichi, 12 August 2026, discharge to restart, viewing paused
• Kumanichi, 4 August 2026, earthquake damage to the Okoya
• Nation Thailand, 4 August 2026, partial damage
• Kumanichi, 3 April 2026, 2026 discharge season
• Kumanichi, 16 July 2023, first discharge after the recommendation
• Tabi-mag: Tsūjun Bridge discharge, terraced paddies on the plateau

Photos

• Wikimedia Commons: Tsujunkyo 2020 2.jpg, Totti, 28 November 2020, CC BY-SA 4.0

Artwork File · Last checked 9 November 2026 · Certainty labels follow How We Verify Art · All Artwork Files