A group of stone bridges is found along the Nakashima-Gawa River in Nagasaki. The most famous bridge in the group is known as Megane-Bashi or Spectacles Bridge. Said to have been built back in 1634, Megane-Bashi is Japan’s oldest stone arch bridge. It is 22 meters in length and 3.65 meters wide. The bridge is called Megane-Bashi because its two arches reflected on the surface of the water create a pair of circular shapes, like a pair of spectacles. It is currently designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Photograph provided by Nagasaki Prefecture Convention and Tourism Association