Shimanto River [四万十川]
Shimanto River
Pleasure boat of Shimanto River
Shimanto River flows in the southwest part of Kochi Prefecture.
It rises in the mountain about 50 km west of Kochi city.
Because the area has complex land formations, it runs meandering through the mountains toward southwest.
The total length is 196 km, and the mouth is located about 90 km southwest of Kochi city.
Shimanto River is remote from major cities and does not have any dams.
Therefore, it is often referred to as the last clear stream of Japan.
In the clear water, various fish and aquatic organism make their habitats.
And people has used this river in good harmony with nature.
The lower section of the river flows in Shimanto city.
The central town of Shimanto city is near the mouth of the river, and is called Nakamura (中村).
Nakamura is a historic small town, and is a starting point to tour Shimanto River and Cape Ashizuri to the south.
Ichijo Family was a court noble in Kyoto.
They came to this area to avoid the civil war in Kyoto in 1475.
After the war, only Ichijo Fusaie (1475-1539) didn't return to Kyoto, and built a grid town like Kyoto in Nakamura.
So this city is called "Little Kyoto in Tosa".
(Tosa is the old name of Kochi Prefecture.)
Unfortunately, most of the old buildings were destoyed by Nankai Megathrust Earthquake in 1946 (M8.4).
Chinkabashi (沈下橋)
Sada Chinkabashi
Road on Sada Chinkabashi
Chinkabshi is a kind of simple bridges.
It provides a bridge when water flow is low.
Under high flow conditions, water runs over the roadway.
It has no parapet not to be washed away.
This type of the bridge is cheaper than constructing a bridge to raise the level of the road above the highest flood stage of a river.
In addition, even if it has been damaged by a flood, it is easy to repair.
Such bridges have been built as community road in underpopulated areas in Japan.
It is said that about 400 Chinkabshi are found in Japan.
There are 47 Chinkabshi along Shimanto River.
It is popular to travel around a few Chinkabashi by rental bicycle.
You can rent the bicycle around Nakamura station of Tosa Kuroshio railway.
And a few sightseeing boats to see the bridges on the river are operated.
The boarding points are dotted along the river.
Sada Chinkabashi (佐田沈下橋) is located about 8 km from Nakamura station.
It is the nearest bridge from Nakamura and the longest bridge.
It was built in 1972.
The length is about 292 meters and the width is 4.2 meters.
Swollon Shimanto River
Photo by Kochi Visitors & Convention Association
Misato Chinkabashi
Misato Chinkabashi (三里沈下橋) is located about 3 km from Sada Chinkabashi.
The length is about 146 meters and the width is 3.3 meters.
It was built in 1963.
It is in a rural area and the scenery in the sunset is beautiful.
Takase Chinkabashi (高瀬沈下橋) is located about 5 km from Misato Chinkabashi.
The length is about 232 meters and the width is 3.4 meters.
It was built in 1973.
There is a camping site near the bridge and we can see the fireflies in the evening in summer.
Takase Chinkabashi
Katsuma Chinkabashi
Katsuma Chinkabashi (勝間沈下橋) is located about 3.5 km from Takase Chinkabashi.
The length is about 171 meters and the width is 4.4 meters.
It was built in 1959.
Three posts support the bridge as each bridge pier.
Of course, many other Chinkabashi are farther up the river.
Yasunami Suisha-no-Sato
Photo by Kochi Visitors & Convention Association
Dragonfly Natural Park
Photo by Kochi Visitors & Convention Association
Yasunami Suisha-no-Sato (安並水車の里)
Yasunami Suisha-no-Sato is a park of some water wheels for irrigation of rice field in Yasunami district.
It is located in the peaceful rice fields about 3 km north of Nakamura station.
Since the middle of the 17th century, many water wheels had been built in this district.
But they are no longer in use now.
So, only a few water wheels remain preserved for visitors.
Dragonfly Natural Park (トンボ王国)
Dragonfly Natural Park is a natural park for dragonfly around Shimanto River.
It is located about 3.5 km west of Nakamura station.
It is called as Tonbo Oukoku in Japanese.
There are many ponds, grass field and forests in the park.
77 kinds of dragonfly are seen in this park, and the number is the largest in Japan.
How to get here
By JR limited express, about 1 hour and 40 to 50 minutes from Kochi to Nakamura.
(The line from Kobokawa is Tosa Kuroshio railway, and is connected to JR Dosan Line.)
