Audio Guide of Meganebashi Bridge

Meganebashi Bridge is a public thoroughfare open 24 hours a day, so there are no time restrictions. The easiest way to get there is to take the Nagasaki tram to the 'Meganebashi' stop (Lines 3, 4, or 5), which leaves you just a few steps from the river.

Visiting is completely free; there is no fee or admission charge. As part of the city's public infrastructure, you can stroll across the bridge and around the area as often as you like.

A typical visit lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, which is enough time to cross it and take photographs. If you decide to look for the famous heart-shaped stones in the walls or enjoy a relaxed walk along the riverbank, you could easily stay up to an hour.

Built in 1634, it is Japan's oldest stone arch bridge and is designated an Important Cultural Property. Its name, 'Megane,' means 'glasses' in Japanese, because the reflection of its two arches in the water creates the perfect shape of a pair of spectacles.

To capture the perfect mirror effect, I recommend going early in the morning or at sunset when the water is calm. The setting is especially beautiful during the Nagasaki Lantern Festival in winter or when the hydrangeas bloom in late May.

The historic bridge has steps that make direct crossing difficult for wheelchair users, but it can still be enjoyed perfectly from the side walkways. The paved paths running parallel to the Nakashima River offer excellent accessible views of the structure.

You are in a central location, just a few minutes on foot from the historic Kofukuji Temple and the Hamano-machi shopping street. You can also easily walk to Nagasaki Chinatown to enjoy local cuisine after your visit.

Don't stay only on top of the bridge; go down to the stone paths at water level and look for the heart-shaped stones hidden in the retaining wall. Finding one of these stones is popularly considered a symbol of good luck in love and makes for a fun activity.