Amarube Railway Bridge

The Amarube Railway Bridge spans the Amarube Valley in Kami Town, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, standing as one of the country's most photographed railway structures. Originally completed in 1912, the first bridge was a steel truss construction that served the San'in Main Line for 74 years before being replaced in 1986 with the current concrete structure. The original bridge measured 310.6 meters in length and stood 41.5 meters above the valley floor, earning it recognition as Japan's highest railway bridge at the time of its construction.

The bridge holds significant cultural value as a symbol of early 20th-century Japanese railway engineering and has appeared in numerous films and television dramas. The area gained particular fame from the 1987 film "Station," which featured scenes at the nearby Amarube Station, now renamed Amarube Bridge Station. The site offers dramatic views of both the Sea of Japan coastline and the rugged valley landscape, making it especially popular during sunrise and sunset hours when the bridge is illuminated by natural light.

Visitors can experience the bridge from multiple vantage points. The Sora no Eki observation platform, built using remnants of the original 1912 bridge, extends over the valley and provides transparent floor panels for viewing the drop below. The platform offers panoramic views of the bridge, valley, and coastline. Photographers frequently visit to capture trains crossing the bridge against the scenic backdrop, with the best angles available from the observation deck and surrounding walking paths.

The bridge is located approximately 30 kilometers north of Hamasaka Station along the San'in Main Line. Access is available via local trains on the JR San'in Line, with Amarube Bridge Station situated directly adjacent to the structure. From major cities, visitors typically travel to Kinosaki Onsen or Hamasaka and transfer to local services. Limited parking is available for those traveling by car along Route 178, though space fills quickly during peak seasons and weekends.