Let’s walk along the Yappashikomichi Love Romance Road. Walk and look at the beautiful surface of Lake Sesso!
- Sightseeing 観る
- Kawanehoncho Area 川根本町エリア
- History 四季 芸術
Contents
What is the Yappashikomichi Love Romance Road?
Why is it called “Love Romance Road”?
Start from Nagashima park!
Walking along the Yappashikomichi Love Romance Road
Shiryokan Yamabiko(museum)
Nearby stores information
I walked along the “Yappashikomichi Love Romance Road” with a walking map in hand. You walk the road and look at Lake Sesso, which has eight bridges over it. Refresh yourself by strolling in the great outdoors!
What is the Yappashikomichi Love Romance Road?
The road is a promenade with eight suspension bridges over Sesso Gorge. The whole construction was completed in March, 2008.
As the name suggests, there are eight bridges. This walking course goes around them. They are, Keyaki Bridge, Tochinoki Bridge, Sakura Bridge, Mizunara Bridge, Tsubaki Bridge, Kuwanoki Bridge, Miyanzawa Bridge, and Inukaeri Bridge.
The course is about two kilometers long. It takes about an hour.
You can walk in the middle of nature, and look at the beautiful surface of Lake Sesso.
Why is it called “Love Romance Road”?
Yappashikomichi is located between “Wakamiya Shrine (male god)” and “Kodamaishi Shrine (female god)”. It is said that if you visit both shrines, your wishes will come true. The route was created to visit male and female gods. Therefore, it was named “Love Romance”. It is reminiscent of a love story.
Start from Nagashima Park!
We parked a car at Nagashima Park. After visiting “Wakamiya Shrine” next to Nagashima Park, we headed towards “Kodamaishi Shrine”.
Cross the bridge and head to Yappashikomichi.
①Keyaki Bridge
The first bridge on the Yappashikomichi. After crossing the Southern Alps Sesso Suspension Bridge, you can see on your right. Currently (as of April 2024), it is closed to traffic due to the connecting road.
②Tochinoki Bridge
The second one is the “Tochinoki Bridge.” Starting with it on your left, there are seven bridges in a row.。
③Sakura Bridge
Look at the view from Sakura Bridge. You can see the magnificent view of the Southern Alps Suspension Bridge and Lake Sesso.
④Mizunara Bridge
Walk up the stairs. You will come across a horizontal bridge.
⑤Tsubaki Bridge
This arch-shaped bridge is painted in a vermilion color. It looks great in photos. I’d like to return here in the autumn foliage season and take photos with the bridge.
⑥Kuwanoki Bridge
The sixth is Kuwanoki Bridge. It is a sloped staircase bridge.
⑦Miyanzawa Bridge
This is the longest staircase suspension bridge (suspended deck staircase one) in Japan. Horizontal distance of 62 meters and a height difference of 29 meters. It surpassed the 51-meter “Kesakake Bridge” in Midori City, Gumma Prefecture.
It was the most trembled bridge I’ve ever crossed.
Prepare a camera before crossing the bridge. You can take the best angle photo of Lake Sesso and Miyanzawa Bridge from a high vantage point.
⑧Inukaeri Bridge
This bridge has a distinctive name that is different from the other ones. It was named after dogs refusing to cross it. A short suspension bridge that sways a little.
After crossing Inukaeri Bridge, you will arrive at an open area called Yutorogi park. A Jizo statue called Kouchi Jizo is enshrined there.
The road from Yutorogi Park to Kodamaishi Shrine looks very close on the map. However, Kodamaishi Shrine is in the mountains. It takes about ten minutes to walk the mountain path after reaching a road with houses.
Walking along the Yappashikomichi Love Romance Road
It took 35 minutes on foot from the first Tochinoki Bridge to Inukaeri Bridge on the Love Romance Road. I walked slowly while taking photos. As there were some slopes along the way, I got out of breath. However, it was a good exercise.
The width of each bridge was wide enough for two adults passing each other. I checked with the Kawanehoncho town planning & tourist association, and I was told that there is no set route. Therefore, you can cross from either the Inukaeri Bridge or the Tochinoki one.
It is a well-maintained road, but a mountain path. We recommend you wearing comfortable sneakers.
Yappashikomichi Love Romance Road
- Address
- Inuma, Kawanehoncho Town, Haibara Gun, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Telephone
- 0547-59-2746
Kawanehoncho town planning & tourist association
- Parking
- No dedicated parking(Please park at Nagashima Park accommodating up to 60 cars.)
- Toilets
- Available Nagashima Park toilets
Yutorigi Park toilets(Both no multi-purpose toilets)
- Access
- By car: 90 minutes from Shimada Kanaya IC, the Shin-Tomei Expressway
Five-minute walk from Nagashima park
Public transport: Transfer to Oigawa Railway at JR Kanaya Station
Get off at Senzu Station, and transfer to Ikawa Line, Oigawa Railway
Get off at Sessokyo Onsen Station
Ten-minute walk from Sessokyo Onsen Station
When taking a local bus of Kanzo Line at Senzu Station, get off at Sessokyo Onsen bus stop. Then, ten-minute walk.
- Notes
- This is a walking trail around the eight bridges over Sessokyo Gorge. They are Keyaki Bridge, Tochinoki Bridge, Miyanzawa Bridge, Inukaeri Bridge, Mizunara Bridge, Sakura Bridge, Tsubaki Bridge and Kuwanoki Bridge. It is believed that when you visit both the nearby “Wakamiya Shrine” and “Kodamaishi Shrine”, your wishes will come true.
Shiryokan Yamabiko(museum)
After walking along the Yappashikomichi, we headed to the Shiryokan Yamabiko(museum).
We learned the life and culture in Kawanehoncho Town and the ecology of animals.
Bear and serow exhibits were very impressive.
There are 17,000 insect specimens on display. Take time to observe them please.
Shiryokan Yamabiko(museum)
- Admission fees
- Adults 200 yen
Junior high school students / elementary school kids 100 yen
・Explanation of exhibits by staff
・Scent experience of wood
・Exhibition of stuffed animals
・Exhibition of insect specimens, etc.
- Reservations
- Available (phone)
- Business hours
- 9:00～16:30
- Closed
- Tuesdays, days after national holidays, end of the year and New Year’s holidays
- Parking
- 13 cars
- Address
- 90-1 Inuma, Kawanehoncho Town, Haibara Gun, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Telephone
- 0547-59-4031
Shops in Kawanehoncho Town
The following link lists restaurants and gift shops in the town. After visiting Yappashikomichi Love Romance Road, enjoy delicious local cuisine!