In addition to the eight bridges over the Tadami River, trains on the Tadami Line cross a couple of more bridges, surrounded by stunning nature. While the photos of those scenic bridges might not be as spectacular as those taken from the First Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint, these hidden spots are also loved by photographers. Therefore, we highly recommend expanding your visit to the places we include in this article if you are not in a hurry and want to capture various bridges the Tadami Line drives through!
The Must-See Scenic Bridges That the Tadami Line Crosses
- Miyashita Arch Sankyōdai Bridges Viewpoint (宮下アーチ三兄(橋)弟)
- Hosogoe Arch Bridge (細越拱橋)
- Managawa Bridge (真奈川橋梁)
- Kanozu River Bridge (叶津川橋梁)
Miyashita Arch Sankyodai Bridges Viewpoint (宮下アーチ三兄(橋)弟)
Just a 5-minute walk from Aizu-Miyashita Station (会津宮下駅), there is a spot where you overlook the three arch bridges spanning the Tadami Train Line, National Route 252, and Fukushima Prefectural Road 267. In fact, it is the only spot in Japan where you can see three arch bridges at once. With mountains rising in the background, your photos will capture the fresh green colors in the spring, deep green forests in the summer, autumn leaves in the fall, and snowy mountains in the winter.
Sankyōdai means three brothers. The oldest brother is the Ōtani River Bridge (大谷川橋梁) in the middle, completed in 1956. The second older brother is the Miyashita Bridge (宮下橋) at the front, completed in 1972. The youngest brother is the Shin-Miyashita Bridge (新宮下橋) at the front, completed in 1990.
The Tadami Line runs on the Miyashita Bridge.
You surely won’t get lost on your way to the viewpoint from the station, as directory signs are set up along the road to the viewpoint! However, note that the viewpoint is at the end of a narrow road. Thus, if you plan to drive, park your car at the parking lot next to the Mishima Town Tourism Association, Karankoron (観光案内所 からんころん).
Tip: You can rent an electric-assisted bicycle from Mishima Town Tourism Association, Karankoron (観光案内所 からんころん). We also like the coffee and mulberry leaf tea there!
Hosogoe Arch Bridge (細越拱橋)
The Hosogoe Arch Bridge is where you can get very close to a bridge that the Tadami Line trains cross. The concrete bridge consists of eight arches, making the lower part of the bridge look like a series of glasses. Thus, the bridge is also known as the Glasses Bridge (めがね橋).
Because the Hosogoe Arch Bridge is just located next to National Route 252, you can easily take a close-up shot of it from below. The viewing spot is only a 15-minute walk from Hayato Station (早戸駅). Of course, you can take photos of the bridge from various angles along the highway.
If you drive, park your car in the space near the snowshed on the highway near the Hosogoe Arch Bridge.
The Mugenkyō Gorge boats (霧幻峡の渡し) also take you to the spot close to the bridge. From the boat, you can see the arch bridge blending into the surrounding scenery.
Managawa Bridge (真奈川橋梁)
Managawa Bridge is also easy to reach. The viewing point by the Gamō River (蒲生川) is just a 5-minute walk from Aizu-Gamō Station (会津蒲生駅).
From a distance, the bridge would look to be stretching from Mt. Gamodake (蒲生岳), which is also known as Matterhorn of Aizu (会津のマッターホルン). There aren’t that many places in the world where you can capture a train running in front of a magnificent mountain!
In addition to taking a photo from the south end of the Gamō River near National Route 252, many also capture the scenery from the Managawa railroad crossing (真奈川踏切), ensuring that both the train’s head and Mt. Gamodake are in the photo.
Kanozu River Bridge (叶津川橋梁)
Head to the viewpoints of the Kanozu River Bridge for a photo that consists of mountains, a bridge in the middle, and paddy fields at the front. Located between Aizu-Gamō Station (会津蒲生駅) and Tadami Station (只見駅), the bridge was built for the construction of the Tagokura Dam (田子倉ダム).
Characterized by drawing a curve with a radius of 250 meters, the 372-meter-long can be seen from a couple of locations. You can capture the bridge’s gentle curvature from the Kanozu River Bridge Viewpoint on a 130-meter-tall hill on the bridge’s south. While in Japanese, there is a direction board at the foot of the slope.
Another spot we like is from the bridge’s southeast. You can get a front view of the bridge with the paddy fields in front of it and the mountains surrounding the bridge.
The Eight Tadami River Bridges That the Tadami Line Crosses
Trains on the Tadami Line cross the Tadami River eight times. Seven of these bridges connect the train from one side of the riverbank to the other. The last bridge lets the train bypass a 100-meter-tall cliff. In addition to the eight Tadami River bridges, there are a few more that blend in with the surrounding scenery nicely too.
Interested in where you can get a photo like the one on the right? Refer to our Guide to Where to Photo Tadami Line’s Eight Bridges article!
