If Nikko has a postcard-perfect moment, the Shinkyo Bridge is it. This isn't just any bridge—it's the sacred gateway that seems to have jumped straight out of a Japanese fairytale, hanging dramatically over a rushing river like something a movie set designer would dream up. Dating back to 1636, this isn't just a piece of infrastructure; it's a piece of living history that's been posing for photographs longer than cameras have existed. You don't even need to walk across to appreciate its magic—though for a tiny fee, you absolutely can step into a moment that's been capturing travelers' imaginations for centuries.

Ranked among Japan's top three bridges, Shinkyo is less about getting from point A to point B and more about pure visual poetry. It marks the dramatic entrance to Nikko's incredible shrine complex, a vibrant red-lacquered bridge that seems to float above the emerald waters below. Photographers, Instagrammers, and anyone with even a passing interest in stunning landscapes will find themselves stopping dead in their tracks. This is the kind of spot that makes you realize why people fall in love with Japanese landscapes—a perfect blend of natural beauty and human craftsmanship that feels almost too perfect to be real.