🗺️ Seta Karahashi瀬田の唐橋

Spanning the banks of Lake Biwa, the Setagawa Bridge is approximately 224 meters long. The Setagawa Karahashi is one of the "Three Ancient Bridges of Japan" and has also been selected as one of the "One Hundred Roads of Japan." It is mentioned in Japan's oldest historical text, the "Nihon Shoki," and was once an important transportation route to Kyoto, leading to the saying, "Whoever controls the Karahashi will control the world." As a result, it has witnessed countless wars and is closely tied to Japanese history. The current Setagawa Karahashi is a reconstruction from 1979, preserving the bridge's former beautiful gentle curves and the style of the ornamental pearl. The bridge under the glow of the setting sun has a unique charm and is worth seeing. During the Edo period, the ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige even used the sunset over Setagawa Karahashi as a subject for his artwork, creating one of the Eight Views of Omi titled "Seta Evening Glow." The proverb "Isogaba maware" (急がば回れ), meaning "Haste makes waste," also originates from this place. The boat route from Yabase Port to Otsu is often delayed by strong winds, so if one wants to arrive safely, they should cross the Setagawa Karahashi. It can be said that this bridge is filled with Japanese culture and historical anecdotes.

The large bridge spanning the many tourist attractions along the Setagawa River. The Setagō Bridge we see today was rebuilt in 1979. It is also a subject of ukiyo-e art. It is the origin of the proverb "Igaraba maware" (Haste makes waste).