Sankabashi （Sanka Bridge）is the most beautiful bridge in the city with three beautiful arches and is selected as one of the “100 most famous bridges in Japan. It is a steel-framed concrete underpass-type tied arch bridge 93 m long and 6 m wide, and is located on the way from Kanonji City to Ariake Beach and the scenic Kotohiki Park. The sight of nine chousa (traditional Japanese floats) crossing the bridge during the Kotohiki Hachiman-gu Grand Festival in the fall is a poetic sight in Kannonji, especially when the bridge is illuminated at night.
| address | 5 Kanonji City, Kagawa Prefecture 768-0060 |
|---|---|
| map | |
| car | ・Approximately 12 minutes (6 km) from the Ohnohara IC of the Takamatsu Expressway |
| train | Approximately 3 minutes (2 km) by taxi from JR Kanonji Station |
| shuttle bus | There are four shuttle Bus services a day. Take the Gogo Takamuro Line Noriai Bus from JR Kannonji Station, and tell the driver “Sankabashi”. There are no bus stops on the Noriai Bus, and you can get on and off anywhere on the route. (However, you are not allowed to get on and off the bus on Route 11 except at designated spots.) |
- History of the Sanka Bridges
The history of Sankabashi (Sanka Bridge) is quite old, with records indicating its existence as early as the 12th year of the Bunsei era (1829). In the Edo period, it was not in its current form but was a three-arch drum bridge. At that time, the bridge was made of wooden materials and was used for crossing to visit Kotohiki Hachiman Shrine, which is why it was called “Sanga Bridge” (meaning “Bridge for Visiting”). In 1885, it was replaced with a flat wooden bridge, and in 1935, the current bridge was constructed. Sankabashi is also listed as one of Japan’s 100 most famous bridges and offers different scenic views throughout the day—from morning to night.
