or Spectacles Bridge, over the Nakashima River (中島川) was built in

Nagasaki , officially , is the capital and the largest Cities of Japan, city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Founded by the Portuguese, the port of Portuguese_Nagasaki, Nagasaki became the sole Nanban trade, port used for tr ...

in 1634 by the

Chinese Chinese may refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China. **'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...

monk Mokusunyoujo who was in the second generation of Chinese monks living at Kofukuji Temple. It is said to be the oldest stone

arch bridge An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its structural load, loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either si ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

along with Edo's

Nihonbashi is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan, which sprung up around the bridge of the same name that has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603. The curre ...

bridge and Iwakuni's Kintaikyou bridge and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property. Megane Bridge is also part of the first group of bridges built over Nakashima river. Megane Bridge is made of stone and is a double arch bridge. It received the nickname "Spectacles Bridge" because its two arches and their reflection in the water create the image of a pair of spectacles. Vehicles are prohibited from crossing the bridge and is strictly prohibited to pedestrians only. On July 23, 1982, a disastrous deluge washed away six of the ten stone bridges over the Nakashima River. Meganebashi was badly damaged but almost all the original stones were retrieved and the bridge was restored to its original appearance. As well as being damaged in a flood in 1982 another flood in 1647 destroyed Megane Bridge but was rebuilt the following year in 1648 by Koumu Hirado. There is a similar but larger " Spectacles Bridge" in

Isahaya Park Isahaya Park (also known as Azalea Park) is in Isahaya in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It was built on the ruins of Isahaya castle (also known as Takashiro) during the Taishō period. The park is famous for its azalea blooms, and the "Azalea Festi ...

. Near Megane Bridge are 20 heart shaped stone within the bridge's embankment from which you can make a wish for eternal love. It is also said that the more heart shaped stones you find the more lucky you will be.

Notes

Bridges in Nagasaki Prefecture Arch bridges in Japan Stone bridges in Japan Roads in Nagasaki Prefecture Stone arch bridges Buildings and structures in Nagasaki Tourist attractions in Nagasaki Transport in Nagasaki {{Japan-bridge-struct-stub