Wooden covered bridges are found in many countries, and they are always appreciated, by locals and tourists alike. Besides looking great, they also tend to last longer, because, being protected by a roof, they have a greater resistance to weather.

In Japan, they are called hashirou or hashidono, and it seems that one the oldest was build around the same time as the oldest European wooden covered bridge (Kapellbrücke in Lucerne, Switzerland), during the 14th century. Called Tsutenkyo, this hashirou was last rebuilt in 1951 and can be visited inside the Tofuku-ji Temple in Kyoto.

Tsutenkyo Bridge, Tofuku-ji Temple, Kyoto

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese traditional architecture, Ryugu-zukuri