According to Nikko’s foundation legend, the monk Shōdō Shōnin was granted safe passage across the torrent by two guardian serpents sent by the deity of the mountains. The present bridge — rebuilt and restored over centuries — preserves that sacred role in a form that blends Heian-period elegance, Edo-period craftsmanship, and Shinto ritual protocol.
Unlike ordinary footbridges, Shinkyo is a consecrated structure: its vermilion railing, gold metal fittings, and cypress planks are maintained with the same reverence given to shrine architecture. Even today, it is crossed ceremonially only on special occasions, keeping its aura of exclusivity intact.
