Harimaya Bridge

Author: Richard Perkins
Photos/Videos Taken: 2025/05/15
Address: Kochi-Shi, Kochi,
Harimaya-cho 1 【780-0822】

Across Japan, there are seemingly endless tourist destinations worth visiting. However, not all of them live up to expectations. Surprisingly, Japan has what is known as the “Big 3 Disappointing Tourist Spots”. These three destinations are (famously) underwhelming and often leave visitors feeling let down. One of these three destinations is the Hariyama Bridge in Kochi, Kochi Prefecture.

The Harimaya Bridge is located in Harimaya Bridge Park. Its name is typically written using the Japanese characters 平仮名 (hiragana) as はりまや橋 (harimaya-bashi). Still, it can also be written in the Chinese characters (also used in the Japanese language) as 播磨屋橋 (harimaya-bashi). The name (and the Chinese characters) refer to one of the shops the bridge originally connected to during the Edo period (1603-1868). Built over a moat, the bridge made it easy to access the 播磨屋 (harimaya) and 櫃屋 (hitsuya) shops. Over the years, the bridge has been featured in several songs, most notably “yosakoi-bushi"—a song performed at Kochi Prefecture’s Yosakoi festival—and “nangoku-tosa-wo-ato-ni-shite” by Peggy Hayama. These songs have helped make the Harimaya Bridge famous throughout Japan.

At 7.5 meters long and 3 meters wide, this bridge appears smaller in person than in photos. Additionally, the bridge standing today is a replica, not the original. What was once built over a moat now sits above an ordinary road. Many people imagine the bridge as it looked centuries ago, which doesn't match its current appearance. This often leads to disappointment when visiting it. However, going to see whether this bridge lives up to its reputation—or doesn't—can be part of the fun. It would truly be a letdown to skip this sight when visiting the area.

Even if you’ve never visited Kochi Prefecture, movie buffs might still recognize this bridge. It was featured in the 2009 film “The Harimaya Bridge”. As the title suggests, Harimaya Bridge is featured, including a scene where the main character crosses it. Although the bridge isn’t very long, the film showcases it beautifully—perhaps even more so than in real life.

It may not seem so at first, but the Harimaya Bridge has a unique charm. When next in Kochi Prefecture, be sure to stop by this bridge and decide for yourself whether it lives up to its reputation.

For those wondering, along with the Harimaya Bridge, the two other disappointing tourist attractions in Japan are the Sapporo Clock Tower in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and the Dutch Slope in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture.