Hidden Wonders | A Bridge in Hokkaido that Appears in Winter

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Amid a vast frozen lake that resembles an endless snowfield, an old arched bridge stands with its legs seemingly anchored in the ice. As the morning sun casts its glow, the bridge evokes the image of an ancient Roman aqueduct. 

This is the Taushubetsu River Bridge, located in Kamishihoro, a town in central Hokkaido. The area is home to around 60 arch bridges, remnants of the former Japan National Railway's Shihoro Line. Among them, the Taushubetsu River Bridge is the most iconic. 

The Phantom Bridge

Spanning Lake Nukabira, a 32-kilometer reservoir, the concrete arch bridge stretches 130 meters long and rises 10 meters high. It was built in 1937 alongside the opening of the Shihoro Line but was decommissioned in 1955 when the Nukabira Dam rendered the railway obsolete. Ironically, it was only after losing its original purpose that the bridge began to attract attention. 

Each year, from June onward, melting snow raises the lake's water level, gradually submerging the bridge. By October, it vanishes entirely beneath the surface. However, when the lake freezes and the water level drops — typically between late December and February — the bridge reemerges, earning its nickname, the "Phantom Bridge." Visitors come from far and wide to witness its fleeting return. 

A Fragile Legacy

This year, access to frozen Lake Nukabira was officially permitted from January 2 to 27. The area closes when the ice becomes too thin to stand on safely.

Even when the lake is off-limits, the bridge remains visible from designated viewing spots, such as the Taushubetsu Bridge Observation Deck. Several parking areas along Nukabira National Highway also provide vantage points. However, the best time to visit is when the lake is accessible, offering a closer view.

Concerns remain about the bridge's condition. Changing water levels, along with wind and snow, have eroded the concrete, giving it a texture resembling stone or clay. During the 2003 Tokachi earthquake, part of the bridge even collapsed. Yet, it is perhaps this transience that makes it all the more captivating.

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Author: The Sankei Shimbun

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