Nihonbashi: The Bridge Where Japan's Roads Begin

Learn how a bridge built in 1603 became the point from which Japanese road distances are measured, and what to look for when visiting it today.

Published October 20, 2026 at 10:27 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Nihonbashi, meaning "Japan Bridge," is a bridge in central Tokyo first built in 1603 during the Edo period. It served as the starting point of the main roads out of Edo, and a marker on the bridge still shows the point from which road distances to Tokyo are measured. The present stone bridge dates from 1911.

What Nihonbashi is

Nihonbashi is both a bridge and the district around it, in Chuo Ward in central Tokyo. The name means "Japan Bridge," and the district takes its name from the bridge, which crosses the Nihonbashi River. Today, the area is a business and shopping district with historic department stores, specialty shops and a number of cultural sites.

The bridge matters because of what it represents. In the Edo period it was treated as the center point of the road network, and today it is still the place from which distances to Tokyo are measured on Japanese highways. For visitors, it is an easy and free stop that links Tokyo's past and present in a few minutes of walking.

The district also reflects the commercial life of old Edo. According to the encyclopedia entry on the area, the Mitsui family developed Nihonbashi as a merchant center in the Edo period, and some well-known businesses trace their roots to it. Even now, according to the tourism board, specialty stores and traditional restaurants from the Edo period still operate in the area, serving dishes such as grilled eel, sushi and oyakodon.

Edo-period beginnings

The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, the year Tokugawa Ieyasu was appointed shogun. According to the encyclopedia entry, it was known as Edobashi, or "Edo Bridge," during the seventeenth century, and the name Nihonbashi came to be used for it later. According to a tourism board, the district prospered after the opening of the bridge in the early seventeenth century, and the bridge became the starting point of five major roads leading into and out of Edo.

The Tokaido, the route linking Edo with Kyoto, was the best known of these. Merchants set up shops near the bridge, and the area developed into one of the busiest commercial centers of the city. Historical sources describe a fish market here in the Edo period that is regarded as an ancestor of later Tsukiji and Toyosu markets, although the market itself has since moved.

In the same period the bridge was also regarded as the eastern end of the Tokaido and the Nakasendo, the two great roads linking Edo to the western parts of Japan. Measuring distances from Nihonbashi turned a local landmark into a national reference point, and the idea has lasted for four centuries.

The Zero Kilometer marker

At the middle of the bridge, a marker identifies Nihonbashi as the origin of the national road network. A bronze signpost on the bridge reads "Origin of Roads in Japan," and distance signs on highways leading to Tokyo are measured to this point. In effect, Nihonbashi works as the zero point for roads in Japan.

National Route 1 begins at Nihonbashi and follows the line of the old Tokaido westward to Kyoto and onward to Osaka, a total of more than 600 km. That makes the bridge a modern as well as a historical starting line. The marker is best looked for in the roadway at the center of the bridge, so take care when crossing and use the pedestrian paths.

The present stone bridge

The bridge seen today is a stone-and-steel structure completed in 1911, designed by the architect Tsumaki Yorinaka. It replaced earlier wooden bridges. The 1911 structure is a very different object from the original wooden bridge, built of stone on a steel frame.

The bridge has been a point of interest for people studying Tokyo's architecture, and it is easy to walk across. Chuo-dori, the main north-south avenue, runs over it. It is a short walk from Nihombashi Station, which the tourism board lists as served by the Ginza and Tozai lines.

The expressway above

In 1964, shortly before the Tokyo Olympics, an elevated expressway was built over the bridge as part of a road expansion for the Games. The structure now runs above the river and the bridge, and it blocks the classic view of Mount Fuji from the bridge. For many years there has been interest in putting the expressway underground.

According to the encyclopedia article on the area, a plan to move a 1.8 km section underground was approved in May 2020, and construction has begun, with completion expected in fiscal year 2041. Schedules like this can change, so the city and expressway operator are the places to confirm current plans. The project is part of a wider effort to restore the riverside view. Until then, walkers can still enjoy the bridge itself and the stretch of river beside it, where the contrast between old and new Tokyo is easy to see in a single glance.

Nihonbashi and the Tokaido

Hiroshige's famous print series on the Tokaido begins with a print of the departure from Nihonbashi, which shows the bridge as the traditional starting point of the route. The series contains 55 prints, one for each of the 53 post stations plus the starting point at Nihonbashi and the arrival in Kyoto. It helped make the bridge familiar to a wide public.

Travelers who like to follow history can use Nihonbashi as the first stage of a longer walk. The old road continues south through the city, and later sections of the Tokaido can be explored in places like Kanagawa and Hakone. Seeing the starting point first adds context to a visit to any of the later stages. Museums along the route, and printed maps of the old road, can help travelers plan which stretches suit their time and walking pace.

What to look for and how to visit

At the bridge, look for the Zero Kilometer marker, the bronze signpost, the stonework and the decorative details. Nearby, the tourism board notes specialty stores and traditional restaurants that date from the Edo period, and the district also holds historic buildings such as the Bank of Japan headquarters, which is designated an important cultural property.

Plan on a short visit, perhaps combined with a walk around the district. Check the opening times of shops and other sites separately, since they differ. Streets around the bridge can be busy during working hours, so an early morning visit may be calmer. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Nihonbashi mean?

Nihonbashi means "Japan Bridge." The name refers to the bridge itself, first built in 1603, which gave its name to the surrounding district in central Tokyo. In the Edo period, the bridge was the starting point of five major roads out of the city, which is why the name carries such weight.

Where is the Zero Kilometer marker?

It is located at the middle of Nihonbashi Bridge, where a marker identifies the bridge as the origin of Japan's roads. Distances to Tokyo on highway signs are measured to this point. A bronze signpost on the bridge reads "Origin of Roads in Japan," and a subway station is nearby.

When was the current bridge built?

The present stone-and-steel bridge was completed in 1911, according to the encyclopedia entry on the area, and was designed by Tsumaki Yorinaka. It replaced earlier bridges. An expressway added in 1964 runs above it, with a plan to move it underground.

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More guides from Tokyo Paul: The Tokaido: Edo's Main Road and Its 53 Post Stations, Zojoji Temple: Where an Edo-Era Gate Meets Tokyo Tower and The Edo Period: When Peace Shaped Japanese Culture.