Nihonbashi facts for kids
Nihonbashi (日本橋, meaning Japan Bridge) is a busy area in Tokyo, Japan. It's also called Nihombashi. This district is in the Chūō part of Tokyo. It grew around a famous bridge that shares its name. The bridge crosses the Nihonbashi River. Many bridges have stood in this spot since the 1600s, all with the same name.
Did you know that all distances in Japan are traditionally measured from the middle of the Nihonbashi Bridge? This special custom started a long time ago, during the Edo period.
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History of Nihonbashi
In the Edo period, the Nihonbashi Bridge was a very important starting point. It marked the beginning of the Tōkaidō road. This road was a major route connecting Edo (which is now Tokyo) and Kyoto.
The very first Nihonbashi Bridge was made of wood. It was finished in the year 1603. The bridge you see today is made of strong stone. It was completed much later, in 1911.
In 2009, Nihonbashi was chosen as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan. These places are recognized for showing what modern Japan and its culture are like.
Key Dates for Nihonbashi Bridge
- 1603 (Keichō 8): The first wooden bridge was built here.
- 1605 (Keichō 10): The first official map of Japan was made. Distances on this map were measured from Nihonbashi.
- 1911 (Meiji 44): The bridge was rebuilt using stone.
Related Places and Topics
Images for kids
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Nihonbashi Bridge, which gives the district its name
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Ukiyo-e print of Nihonbashi by Keisai Eisen, c. 1836 (from The Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kiso Kaidō)
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Nihonbashi in 1946
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Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi main store
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Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower
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Nihonbashi bridge 1830s by Hiroshige
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Ukiyo-e print of Nihonbashi bridge by Hiroshige (from The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō)
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Kilometre zero is on the middle of the bridge.
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Lion on the Nihonbashi Bridge
See also
In Spanish: Nihonbashi para niños
