A pedestrian and cyclist bridge spanning the Asano River. The first bridge was built in 1910 (Meiji 43) through donations led by local resident Koujiro Saida, and became a city road in 1915. It was washed away by floods twice — in 1922, and again in 1953 during the catastrophic "Niya-Hachi" flood. After the 1953 flood the city initially gave up on rebuilding, but strong public demand brought it back: the current, third bridge opened on April 16, 1978 (Showa 53). A steel bridge with wooden railings, it's lit up after dark.
A local tradition holds that if you cross, in the dead of night on the equinox, the seven bridges spanning the Asano River — from upstream: Tokiwabashi, Tenjinbashi, Umenohashi, Asanogawa Ohashi, Nakanohashi, Kobashi, and Shonagabashi — your wish will come true. Umenohashi is said to be the second bridge in that sequence.
The cluster of shops in Namiki-cho, right at the bridge's foot — a walkable stretch where good places overlap, the quintessential Umenohashi corner.
The stretch from Umenohashi toward Asanogawa Ohashi and the Higashi Chaya teahouse district — places to duck into along a riverside walk.
The bridge itself, and the stories layered at its foot.