Totsukawa

By Amanda Scott

The Tanize Suspension Bridge, located in the Nara prefecture of Japan, is one of the country’s longest still-wire suspension bridges.  The bridge is 297m long and 54m tall. It has become a major tourist attraction, offering both adventure for thrill seekers and beautiful scenery for nature lovers.

The Tanize Suspension Bridge was constructed in 1954 in the village of Totsukawa. Each family in the village donated $3000 to fund the building of the Tanize Suspension Bridge. Donations totaled nearly $80,000.

Every year on August fourth an event known as Yuredaiko, the drums on the shaking bridge, takes place on the Tanize Suspension Bridge. The spectacle is performed by the group Kodama. Kodama puts on a powerful show using Japanese drums. Many tourists and locals alike gather to take in the show.

In addition to the Tanize Suspension Bridge and the Yuredaiko event there are many other things tourist can enjoy in the village of Totsukawa. The Sasanotaki Waterfall, or Waterfall of the Bamboo Grass, is listed as one of the top 100 waterfalls in Japan. It reaches approximately 32m high and contains the purest water in the region. Totsukawa is also known for its Onsen or hot springs. There are also many footbaths in Totsukawa.

Tourists can also experience “Yaen,” which are small gondolas hung from ropes above a river. The Yaen are used to move from shore to shore and used to be as a means of transportation for the villagers of Totsukawa, however now they are mostly enjoyed by tourists. It takes about ten minutes for the average person to cross using the Yaen.

Totsukawa is just one of Japan’s many treasures. It is the largest village in Japan in terms of land area and offers travelers many options of entertainment.