Seta no Karahashi Bridge

Seta no Karahashi Bridge spans the Seta River along the historic Tokaido route and is recognized as one of Japan’s Three Famous Bridges. It is also renowned as "Seta no Sekisho," one of the Eight Views of Omi. Its beauty inspired a haiku by Matsuo Basho. Mentioned in the Nihon Shoki, the bridge was once considered a strategic stronghold, giving rise to the saying "He who controls Karahashi controls the nation." At the time, this bridge was the only land route into Kyoto from the east aside from crossing Lake Biwa. Due to its strategic importance, many battles, including the Jinshin War and the Genpei War, were fought nearby. Though repeatedly burned during conflicts, the bridge’s distinctive giboshi finials have been preserved since the Edo period and still bear inscriptions from that era. Seta no Karahashi is also known as the origin of the Japanese proverb "Isogaba maware" ("Make haste slowly"). The nearest station is Karahashi-mae Station on the Keihan Line, about a 5-minute walk away.