Selected as one of the 100 best roads and streets of Japan, the Hakuba Ohashi Bridge, completed in 1986, is the perfect vantage point from which to marvel at Mt. Shakushi, Mt. Yari, and Mt. Shirouma—three colossal mountains known collectively as Shirouma Sanzan.
Stretching over Matsu River, which flows with crystal-clear meltwater, the bridge has pedestrian walkways on both sides, from where visitors can take in the breathtaking views of this awe-inspiring stretch of Japan’s Northern Alps. The bridge is dotted with informative signs that explain what to look for in the snow formations on top of each mountain throughout the year. For example, one vantage point lets you see the diamond-like shapes formed by falling snow, while another allows you to see the first Japanese character (八) of the area’s name Happo-one etched in the ice.
Only a ten-minute walk from Happo-one’s bus terminal and information center, Hakuba Ohashi Bridge is a detour well worth taking.