Namegata City, Ibaraki Prefecture, east side of Kasumigaura Bridge
A Trip to Kasumigaura Bridge Letting the lake breeze set my pace along the bridge
A drive across Kasumigaura Bridge would be even nicer with time for a walk on the Namegata City side. On a spring afternoon, I can feel the lake breeze from the walkway and look up at the tall tower by the bridge. At the nearby Koikoi Local Products Centre, the local Namegata burger, Name Pak-kun, made with catfish from Lake Kasumigaura, sounds like a treat to look forward to on the trip.
Come along for a walk on the east side of the bridge on an April afternoon.
SpringA sunny afternoon in April
Letting the lake breeze set my pace along the bridge
On a sunny afternoon in April, I crossed Kasumigaura Bridge to the Namegata City side. After parking the car, I headed for the walkway, and the breeze coming across the lake tugged at my scarf. The sky was bright, but once I started walking, I was glad I'd worn a coat. Today, I wanted to slow down and take a look around on foot at a place I'd just driven past.
I turned towards the foot of the bridge and spotted a tall tower and a round-roofed building. From here, the tower seemed to reach straight into the sky, much more clearly than it had from the car. I walked slowly along the brick-coloured path and followed the railings with my eyes as they stretched ahead. With the lake right beside the path, even an ordinary walk feels different in the breeze.
My friend and I stood side by side and looked out towards the lake. Watching the water stretch into the distance, I could understand why people say it feels like the sea. Kasumigaura Bridge connects Namegata City and Kasumigaura City and is 1,015 m long. “You really notice the length when you walk it,” my friend said. I nodded, and we decided to enjoy the view from this eastern side for now.
Apparently, there used to be a ferry crossing here during the Edo period. There's a bridge there now, but people used to cross the water by boat. As I looked past the railings, the opposite shore seemed a little different. I pulled my scarf a little closer around me and looked back at the path. On a breezy day, a walk like this becomes part of the trip, too.
Shall we get something more to eat and head to Koikoi Local Products Centre by the bridge? I'm curious about Name Pak-kun, a burger made with catfish from Lake Kasumigaura. My friend and I said the name out loud, and it made us smile before we'd even tried it. I love that we can add a taste of the lake to a trip spent looking out over it. After one more look up at the tower, we headed back to the foot of the bridge.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
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Namegata City, Ibaraki Prefecture, east side of Kasumigaura Bridge · Spring
Local food to try on your trip
Namegata Burger: Name Pak-kun
This burger is featured at Koikoi Local Products Centre and is made with catfish from Lake Kasumigaura. I'd love to add a taste of the region to a trip spent admiring the lake.
Highlights
Feel the lake breeze after getting out of the car
From the walkway on the bridge's east side, the lake's wide-open water and the breeze feel close at hand. The tower by the bridge is worth a look, too.
The ferry crossing before the bridge
Apparently, there used to be a ferry crossing here during the Edo period. Once I learned that, I looked across the same water and the opposite shore seemed different.
Bridge details
Kasumigaura Bridge
- Bridge length
- 1015m
- Number of traffic lanes
- 2 lanes
Lake Kasumigaura, plus the tower and local products centre on the Namegata City side
The bridge has both a roadway and a pedestrian walkway. After driving across, why not take a stroll on the Namegata City side and feel the lake breeze?
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