Megane-bashi

Nagasaki


The best known of several bridges that cross the Nakashima-gawa, the Spectacles Bridge is so called because the reflection of the arches in the water looks like a pair of Meiji-era spectacles.

At one time, each bridge was the distinct entrance to a separate temple. Six of the 10 bridges, including Megane-bashi, were washed away on 23 July 1982 but later restored using the recovered stones.

Transportation

  • tram: Megane-bashi

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Nagasaki attractions

1. Nakashima-gawa Bridges

Parallel to Teramachi, the Nakashima-gawa is crossed by a picturesque collection of 17th-century stone bridges. At one time each bridge was the distinct…

2. Kōfuku-ji

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This temple in Teramachi dates from the 1620s and is noted for the Ming architecture of the main hall. Like Sōfuku-ji, it is an Ōbaku Zen temple – and the…

3. Nagasaki Museum of History & Culture

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This large museum with attractive displays focuses on Nagasaki's proud history of international exchange. Additionally, there's a fabulous, detailed…

4. Shōfuku-ji

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This temple, surrounded by serene gardens, is not to be confused with Sōfuku-ji (in Teramachi). It contains an arched stone gate dating from 1657. The…

5. Sōfuku-ji

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In Teramachi, this Ōbaku temple (Ōbaku is the third-largest Zen sect after Rinzai and Sōtō) was built in 1629 by Chinese monk Chaonian. Its red entrance…

6. Suwa-jinja

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Situated on a forested hilltop and reached via multiple staircases with nearly 200 steps, this enormous shrine was established in 1625. Around the grounds…

7. Fukusai-ji Kannon

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This temple takes the form of a huge turtle carrying an 18m-high figure of the goddess Kannon on its back. Inside, a Foucault pendulum (demonstrating the…

8. Shinchi Chinatown

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During Japan's long period of seclusion, Chinese traders were theoretically just as restricted as the Dutch, but in practice they were relatively free…

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