Yatsuyama Bridge – Crossing Old Boundaries
The first thing anyone tells you about the Yatsuyama Bridge is that it was famously destroyed by a Godzilla in the 1954 film “Godzilla”. Now we’ve got that out of the way…
Yatsuyama Bridge might seem like just another Tokyo overpass. But take a moment to look closer. This bridge sits where ancient roads, modern railways, and shifting city borders all meet. It’s more than a crossing — it’s a marker of change. While you probably won’t stay long, the site invites reflection as you pass through.
🚉 From Hilltop to Highway
The name “Yatsuyama” refers to the now-lost Yatsuyama Hill. During the early Meiji period, engineers flattened this hill to lay down Japan’s first railway in 1872. Since then, the landscape has transformed. Today, the bridge stands where the hill once rose. It links Kitashinagawa with Minato Ward, spanning both train tracks and time.
📷 The Gritty View
This isn’t a picturesque bridge. However, it’s a favorite for those who enjoy urban scenery. From the top, you’ll see power lines, bullet trains, and distant towers framed by steel beams. Yatsuyama Bridge doesn’t try to impress — it just shows you what Tokyo looks like when it’s not posing.
📜History of Yatsuyama Bridge
The current bridge is the fourth bridge to be called Yatsuyama Bridge.
First Generation Yatsuyama Bridge
The first Yatsuyama Bridge was constructed in 1872 (Meiji 5). It was a wooden bridge, the first of its kind to cross over the train tracks.
This painting by Hiroshige III dated around 1871 shows Yatsuyamashita. It refers to Takanawa Yatsuyama and is the present location of Shinagawa Station. However, the date of 1871 is either doubtful or there has been some artistic licence involved. That is, it shows that the Yatsuyama bridge already exists (bottom right), the railway has no tracks, the locomotive looks toy like. And, the Tsukiji Hotel which was burned down in February 1872 (Meiji 5) appears on the left edge.
(Tokyo Yatsuyamashita Kaigan Jōkisha Tetsudō no Zu)
Painted by Utagawa Hiroshige III Around 1871
This ukiyo-e woodblock print taken from the opposite direction is not photorealistic either. And published Meiji 3 (1871) before the bridge was built. The artists have to make money I suppose.
Artist: Utagawa Kuniteru (Japanese, 1830–1874)
Second Generation Yatsuyama Bridge
The second bridge was constructed in Taisho 2 (1913). This version was an arch-type iron bridge, with the use of reinforced concrete as a primary material for the supporting walls.
Reinforced concrete structures worthy of note in this period are the Yatsuyama bridge and the ground-walls at Shinagawa on the Tokyo-Yokohama line, which were completed in 1913-14, The walls have supporting walls and a shelf comprise one of the boldest plans attempted at that time. When concrete was first used, bricks. stones and even concrete blocks, instead of wooden forms were used as moulds. These early methods are almost entirely out of fashion now, except in very special cases.
THE FAR EASTERN REVIEW July, 1938
March 29, 1924 (Taisho 13), the Tokyo Todensha laid tram tracks over Yatsuyama Bridge as part of an extension from Shinagawa Station to the front of the former Keihin Electric Railway Shinagawa Station which is the current Kita-shinagawa station. (You had to change from a train to a tram or vice versa at Kita-shinagawa station, we presume.)
Third Generation Yatsuyama Bridge
The third bridge was constructed in Showa 5 (1930). It wasn’t a replacement, however.
A second arch bridge was erected next to the existing second-generation arch bridge on the west side. Later, with the extension of the Keihin Electric Railroad Main Line to the current Shinagawa Station using the Yatsuyama Overpass, which opened on April 1, 1933 and the tramway was abolished. Following the abolition of the the Tokyo Todensha tramline from Shinagawa Station to Kitashinagawa Station the Yatsuyama Bridge became a road-only bridge. The Yatsuyama Overpass is the green Warren Truss 2 track rail bridge which remains today.
Bridge v2 further left with 3 arches and 2 x 2 lanes of traffic and a footpath.
Fourth Generation Yatsuyama Bridge
In 1985 the current, fourth-generation bridge was completed to replace the second and third generation bridges.
Where is it?
| what3words | ///stormed.swan.herring |
| latitude longitude | 35.6244984 139.7387834 |
| Nearest station(s) | Shinagawa, Kitashinagawa |
| Nearest public conveniences | South of the bridge on the way to Tokaido |
Show me a sign.
No sign could be found. However, I remember there was a sign. It’s was one of the first signs I came across. I looked through some old photos and found it. I took a new photo of the same spot. It was on the end of the south west side of the bridge just in front of the old pillar’s. The concrete one’s a remnant of the second bridge, the metal one a remnant of the third bridge.
Here’s an enhanced close up.
It shows that this is also the sign for #18 which is a view from not-this-bridge but a different bridge. Instead it’s Shin-Yatsuyama bridge. No wonder I couldn’t see a church!
Withervee says…
Looking at old pictures of the bridge it looks like the remnant railing, concrete pillars from the 1913 bridge and the metal pillar from 1930 bridge have been arranged as a memorial in 1985. If only that explanatory plate hadn’t vanished!
The railings on the current bridge look similar…
There’s currently room for 6 lanes of traffic and 2 footpaths between the railings. But there are theses huge turquoise boxy metal things in the way. (What are they for I wonder?)
The guy on the right can’t take much more of something. He’s gonna jump!
(Don’t do it, she’s not worth it! – actually he was just stretching.)
Site Character
- Lifestyle 生活 (Seikatsu): ✔️
- Historical Significance 歴史 (Rekishi): ✔️
- Atmosphere/Natural Features 風土 (Fūdo): ❌
Who in their right mind would vote for this?
- Urban explorers
- Train lovers
- Photographers
- Infrastructure geeks
- People who love transitions
While you’re there…
Grab a coffee at Shinagawa Station. Then take a few steps toward the old Tōkaidō road. One moment you’re in the future, the next you’re in the Edo period.
