Hijiori Nozomi Ohashi Bridge is a steel rigid-frame road bridge approximately 240 meters long, located in the mountainous Hijiori Onsen area of Okura Village, Yamagata Prefecture. Built using this particular type of road-bridge construction, it is recognized as the longest of its kind in Japan.
The bridge has become a distinctive landmark of Hijiori Onsen, a hot spring village surrounded by steep mountains. Its most striking feature is its large S-shaped curve, which follows the mountainside, while enormous bridge piers rise dramatically from the steep slope below.
The bridge was constructed as an alternative route after a section of the prefectural road was closed by a major landslide in 2012. After approximately two years of construction, it officially opened to traffic on November 30, 2013.
The story of Hijiori Nozomi Ohashi is closely connected with a series of major landslides that struck the Hijiori area.
In April and May 2012, a total of eight landslides occurred in Okura Village. The landslides gradually increased in scale, creating a serious risk that the Hijiori Onsen district itself could be flooded.
In response to the disaster, the local residents’ association in Hijiori established a temporary FM radio station. It provided information about water levels, snow removal, and other conditions to help residents stay informed during the emergency.
Although the situation in the hot spring town gradually stabilized, the landslides left part of the prefectural road impassable. A new transportation route was therefore needed to connect Hijiori Onsen with the central area of Okura Village.
Following the disaster, construction of a new bridge connecting the hot spring town with the village center was urgently planned. Work began in August 2012.
Construction proceeded around the clock, and a temporary opening was achieved on December 31, 2012. Work continued afterward, and the completed bridge officially opened on November 30, 2013.
Securing a new transportation route so soon after the disaster was highly significant for the daily lives of local residents. Once the bridge was completed, the journey from the center of Okura Village to Hijiori Onsen was shortened by approximately 10 to 15 minutes. The improved access also contributed to an increase in visitors to the area’s hot spring facilities.
Hijiori Nozomi Ohashi features a distinctive structure designed to cope with the challenging terrain of a steep mountain slope.
The bridge is approximately 240 meters long and 6 to 8.25 meters wide, with total construction costs of approximately 1.9 billion yen.
Rather than crossing a valley in a straight line, the bridge curves along the mountainside in a sweeping S-shaped form. This creates a dramatic landscape that is quite different from that of an ordinary bridge.
The bridge was constructed using the Metal Road construction method. This technique is particularly suitable for road construction and expansion in hilly and mountainous areas with steep slopes and complicated terrain.
The Metal Road method uses short, lightweight prefabricated components to construct a roadway. At Hijiori Nozomi Ohashi, 119 steel pipe piles were driven into the ground, and the bridge girders were installed directly onto these piles.
Concrete deck slabs were then installed above the girders to form the road surface. This made it possible to create a transportation route along the steep mountainside while minimizing large-scale alteration of the natural terrain.
This ability to construct roads while limiting extensive changes to the surrounding landscape is one of the reasons the method is well suited to mountainous regions.
Another interesting feature of Hijiori Nozomi Ohashi is found in its bridge name plates. Four name plates are installed on the bridge.
The name written in kanji was personally handwritten by the governor of Yamagata Prefecture at the time, Hiroya Yoshimura. The bridge also incorporates organic EL lighting, reportedly the world’s first use of this technology for an outdoor bridge name plate. At night, the illuminated name adds another distinctive feature to the bridge.
The hiragana version of the bridge name features characters handwritten one by one by local elementary and junior high school students.
By incorporating the children’s handwriting into a bridge built after the disaster, the name plates express a strong connection between the structure and the local community. They serve as a lasting reminder of the people who live in the area.
The bridge’s railings are painted vermilion. The vivid color makes the bridge easy to see from a distance and improves its visibility in the mountainous landscape.
Vermilion has also traditionally been regarded in Japan as a color that wards off evil. Against the surrounding green mountains, the bright railings stand out dramatically and have become one of the bridge’s most recognizable visual features.
Hijiori Nozomi Ohashi Bridge is more than a transportation facility. It was built as a symbol of recovery from disaster and the revitalization of the local community.
Its approximately 240-meter S-shaped structure follows the mountainside, while its massive supports, vermilion railings, illuminated name plates, and handwritten characters created by local children give the bridge a unique identity.
When visiting Hijiori Onsen, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate not only the hot spring town’s history and surrounding mountain scenery but also Hijiori Nozomi Ohashi, which has helped protect local life and support tourism in this remote mountain community.
The road leading deep into this secluded hot spring village has itself become part of the area’s story. The bridge stands as a striking reminder of the region’s natural challenges, its recovery, and the continuing connection between the community and Hijiori Onsen.