Snowshoeing to an Abandoned Bridge in a Frozen Lake
Wonder how this mysterious-looking arch bridge ended up in the middle of lake? Taushubetsu Bridge was established in the 1930s as a part of a train rail. It finishes its job in 1955 when a dam was built nearby, which resulted in sinking the bridge in a artificial lake, Lake Nukabira. Ever since then, the bridge shows up from and goes under the water according to the water level of the lake which dramatically changes depending on the seasons and power generation using the dam water. Visiting this bridge was on my wish list for long, and finally I had a chance to take a snowshoeing tour to see the bridge with my parents in March 2019!
First, we gathered in a civil hall of Kamishihoro Town at 9am. There we got some instructions from our guide about the tour and geared up in snowshoes. After everything was all set, we got in a van to the point from which we started snowshoeing to the lake through a forest area. The guide who led us was quite knowledgeable. He explained about plants and trees found along the way and history of the bridge. (We found some bear claw marks on trees!)
Since we went there at the beginning of March, the lake already started to melt and we could not cross the lake unfortunately. If you come here from early January to late February, you will cross the lake and have a close look at the bridge. However even from a distance, I could clearly saw the bridge and the view was spectacular!
As explained earlier, the bridge has been exposed to water erosion for decades, and it has been causing serious damages to the bridge that rips off some parts of it. Now the bridge is barely connected in one line, but it is a matter of time that the bridge collapses and we will no longer be allowed to get closer to the bridge for security reasons, said our guide. So if you want to visit here, plan it now!
This tour didn't end just with the bridge. We got to explore frozen bubbles in the ice as well. Find out more from here ("Magical Frozen Bubbles in Lake Ice").
Snowshoeing Tour to Taushubetsu Bridge
More Info & Booking: http://www.guidecentre.jp/index.html
Opening Season: Early January to Late February to cross the lake and reach the bridge, Late February to Late March to see the bridge from the lake shore
Tour Time: 9am-12pm
Fee: 4,000 yen /person
Meeting Point: Higashitaitetsu Nature Guide Centre（糠平温泉文化ホール ）