Kintai Bridge

Kikkou Park, which includes the bridge and castle, is a popular tourist destination in Japan, particularly during the Cherry blossom festival in the spring and the autumn color change of the Japanese maples.

As a result, the stone piers were redesigned for greater strength, and a special tax was created to maintain the bridge.

It was in a weakened state at the time, as the Japanese had stopped maintaining the bridge during World War II.

This was achieved by the careful fitting of the wooden parts and by the construction of the thick girders by clamping and binding them together with metal belts.

This allowed rising flood waters to lift out the wooden pathway and carry it off down stream while sparing the main structure.