When the water level of Lake Nukabira decreases, a crumbling structure resembling an ancient Roman aqueduct appears from beneath the surface.
The bridge was built in 1939 across the Otofuke River and was part of the now-discontinued Shihoro Line railway. The indigenous people of northern Japan call the river Birch-infested.
The railway had to make a detour and abandon the bridge because of the Nukabira Dam. The bridge is in the middle of a man-made lake and has to stay submerged for most of the year. Despite its scenic appeal, there has been no attempt to repair the bridge despite the damage it causes. This was mostly due to its inconvenient location, lack of demand for preservation, and economic circumstances.
The bridge was reported to be in danger of collapse by several media outlets in the year of 2017, but as of today it continues to stand. It will be sorely missed when it finally collapses to dust, but some believe that its true attraction lies in its final days, and that they will watch its final days attentively.
