Taushubetsu Bridge, also called as めがね橋 (eyeglasses bridge)
Every time you visit this place, you’ll see different scenery as water level differs each season. If you visit June-July, you might be able to see this beautiful “glass-like” bridge. (The dried-out cover photo was taken during Golden Week, beginning of May in 2017)
This old bridge was designated as a Hokkaido heritage site in 2001.
Why it’s called Phantom Bridge?
This concrete made bridge, built as part of old Japanese National Railways’ Shihoro Line in 1937, but it fell into disuse as hydroelectric power dam (Nukabira-dam) was built in 1955 in this area – man-made lake was used for this project. This “left behind” bridge is known as “phantom bridge” as it starts submerged around June-July every year, the water level of the lake rises due to rainfall and melting snow, and it will be completely submerged around Oct., and it will reappear in next year Jan.