Okutama’s Suspension Bridges

Getting up high in rural Tokyo

Steve Morton Nov 25, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Looking out eastward towards the impressive and colorful Sogaku Ravine</p>

<p>When walking westwards along the Mukashi-Michi the first bridge you will come to is Shidakura-Bashi</p>

<p>As you begin to cross you will immediately feel it vibrating with each footstep</p>

<p>A look out in the opposite direction is just as colorful!</p>

<p>A view from the other side of the bridge</p>

<p>Less than 10 minutes up river is the second bridge, Dodokoro-Bashi</p>

<p>Similarly, this bridge also spans over 30 meters in height, providing an equally impressive if somewhat scary experience</p>

<p>Looking out eastwards along the Tama River</p>

<p>This stretch of the river is popular for fishing and having picnics</p>

<p>One last look at the river below from outside the entrance of Dodokoro Bridge</p>

Several years ago I hadn’t even heard of Tokyo`s rural Okutama region let alone the Mukashi-Michi, (an abandoned mountain pass). This changed for the better however, as I recently visited this impressive area.

Spanning almost 10 kilometers, the Mukashi-Michi runs parallel to the mighty Tama River. Set deep within a mountainous valley, this picturesque area contains several impressive man-made structures including the Shidakura and Dodokoro suspension bridges.

Located a couple of minutes walk away from each other, these bridges provide some breathtaking views out over Sogaku Ravine, creating a truly memorable experience

Steve Morton @steve.morton138

Yokohama based content creator, editor, and researcher. Steven likes, eating, reading and traveling on a streamlined budget guaranteed to make any self-respecting local gulp. When not too busy with work assignments, Steven attempts to not get lost while following Japanese tourist maps.Follow me o...