The history of Okawa

This Shinto shrine is known as "Ofurousan" by the locals.

It means "Heavy Seas" which refers back to a tale that`s hundreds of years old. Many locals gather here to hold various town festivals and also commemorate the history and culture it represents.

The sacred Tree of Hongu. Estimated to be around 2000 years old, it is a natural monument of Fukuoka prefecture.

Entrance view of Ofurousan shrine.

A picture of the 5 stoned pagoda.

This wooden statue is Akumoriisoryogan which means "God of the Sea". Every year on the night of February 8th people hold a festival near this statue. During this festival, people carry floats while yelling and chanting.

[Time line history]
May 25, 1935

Opening of the Japanese National Railways Saga Line

The March 27, 1987

Abolition of the Japanese National Railways Saga Line

April 29, 1996

Opening of the Chikugo River vertical lift bridge

December 26, 1996 Registration of the country cultural assests.

May 30, 2003

The Chikugo River vertical lift bridge became officially recongized to the country as an important culture site.

[Bridge Specifications]

The length of the iron bridge ：507 meters
The length of the movable bridge: 24 meters
The weight of the movable bridge: 48 tons
The height of the steel tower ：30 meters

The full length of the Chikugo River vertical lift bridge is approximately 507m and construction of the bridge posed many challenges. The depth of the supporting beam was recorded to be approximately 15-18m, but with the Ariake Sea, there`s a big difference between high and low tide, which made construction difficult.

When it came to the operation of the bridge, ships were given priority over train passage, today the bridge is no longer in use and is instead used as a walkway bridge during the daytime. Tourists cross this bridge as this connects to a path which was once a train line which is now converted into a walkway laden with cherry blossom trees. In March, people are seen having picnics under the trees during cherry blossom season.

The main structure of the vertical lift bridge is approximately 30m in height and made of the steel.

The moving structure of the bridge weighs 48t with the 2 supporting steel towers weighing in at 20t each. It could support a weight of approximately 8t even during periods of strong wind.

[Inquiry]

A foundation: Sightseeing in Chikugo River vertical lift bridge foundation
Address: Fukuoka Ken, Daikawa Shi Daijishoho 614-6 TEL: 0944-87-9919

Business hours: From 9:00 to 17:00

Built near the birthplace hometown of Okawa-shi, Fukuoka that spent early childhood that the Masao Koga Memorial was full of his great achievement and memorialized this forever and was opened from March 1, 1982.
There are an exhibition room, an audio equipment mainly on a steel reinforced concrete construction one-story house, total floor area 367 square meters, the relief of a tower and the G clef of the white wall of the central part and, through favorite musical instrument, memento and many Koga melodies, can trace the step in human being Masao Koga 73.

[display hall]
I display many favorite guitar and mandolins, a receiving a prize cup. I restore a part of the lesson room, the study.

[a profile and times height]
A background is identified as a life of Masao Koga in main composition age and the time.
[the second exhibition room]
An audio system room listening to a video and main music requested from 100 pieces.

I left it again early in the Showa era, and a part restored an estimated thing a main building part early in the Meiji era when enlarged a building, and this birthplace was opened to the public from July 25, 1983.

Masao Koga who brought about many famous tunes which touched the Japanese heart leaving an immortal footprint in songs and ballads history of our country lived here until (7 years old, Taguchi senior elementary school two years) in August, 1912.