page_title: Saruhashi Bridge
section_title: Design
hierarchical_section_title: Saruhashi Bridge / Design
caption_attribution_description: English: The Saru-hashi (Monkey bridge) is a bridge of the old Kōshū Kaidō. This location is Saruhashichō-Saruhashi in Ōtsuki, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. 日本語: 山梨県大月市猿橋町猿橋の猿橋。
context_page_description: The Saruhashi Bridge is a historic arch bridge officially listed as a Place of Scenic Beauty of Japan in Ōtsuki, Yamanashi Prefecture. It is ranked as one of Japan's three unique bridges, along with the Kintai Bridge and the Shinkyo Bridge. It is also referred to as the monkey bridge, and is known as one of the "Japanese Sanky Bridges".
  The bridge spans the gorge of the Katsura River and is the most well-known example of the hanebashi design, in which the bridge is supported by a series of cantilever beams set in the opposing cliff faces. The bridge dates to the mid-18th century, when it carried the Kōshū Kaidō, one of the main highways of the Edo period. The elegant design of the bridge and the scenic beauty of the gorge have inspired numerous landscape paintings of the 19th century.
context_section_description: Sarubashi Bridge spans the deep gorge of the Katsura River at Ōtsuki city, Yamanashi, Japan.  While suspension bridges are normally used under such conditions, where it is impractical to build a supporting pier, Sarubashi employs a design called hanebashi (刎橋) which was used during the Edo period (1603–1868).  
  Holes were made in the vertical rock faces of the cliffs to hold four pairs of inclined cantilever beams, called hanegi (羽根木), extending from either side. The lower pairs help support the load of the pairs above, which are of increasing length, with the gap between the opposing sets of beams spanned by a simple arch.  Each beam has a small peaked roof to protect it from the elements.
  The bridge is 3.3 metres (11 ft) wide, 30.9 m (101 ft) long, and crosses about 31 m (102 ft) above the Katsura River.
caption: Saruhashi bridge
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