The Togetsukyō ("Moon-Crossing Bridge") spans the Hozu River at the heart of Arashiyama, named in the thirteenth century by the cloistered Emperor Kameyama who likened the moon's passage across the night sky to that of a boat crossing the river. The current bridge is a 1934 reconstruction in pre-modern style — wooden balustrades and rails over a concrete and steel structure designed to survive flash floods in the Hozu gorge.
The bridge itself takes ninety seconds to walk across. The reason to go is the wider scene: forested ridges rising on the far bank, the long-tailed wooden boats of the local cormorant fishermen tied up on the shore, and in cherry-blossom or autumn-leaf season some of the most photographed reflections in Japan. The riverbank promenade on either side is a short and pleasant walk; combine with the bamboo grove and Tenryū-ji for a full Arashiyama loop.