The Shinkyo (神橋) Bridge from Nikko, crossing the Daiya river, belongs to the Nikko Futarasan Shrine and it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural property in December 1999.
Shinkyo is the oldest bridge built over a gorge in Japan, and there is a beautiful legend about its beginnings:
It is told that around the year 766, the Priest Shodo Shonin together with ten disciples tried to cross the Daiya river, on the place where today lays the bridge. They were unable to cross the river because of the heavy water flow, so the priest fell on his knees and prayed.
Suddenly, the God of the River, Jinja-Daio, looking like a 10 feet tall devil, appeared before him and told him that he will help him cross. The God released over he river two snakes, one red and one blue, they transformed into a bridge and sedge sprouted on their back, allowing them to cross.
After the priest and his party crossed the river, when they looked back, the Jinja-daiou and the bridge had already disappeared.
The bridge was called Yamsugeno-jabashi (translated as Bridge of Snakes with Wild Sedges?).
During Edo period, ordinary people were not allowed to use it, crossing the Shinkyo being a privilege reserved only for the Emperor, a few generals and imperial messengers. Today, the bridge is open for tourists, for a fee of 500 yen.
The bridge was rebuilt in its current form in 1636.
It is 28 meters log, 7.4 meters wide and it is located at 10.6 meters above the river. In 1902, during restoration works it was destroyed by the river and it was reconstructed in 1904. The last restoration was finished in 2005.
