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                 Mikobata and Habuchi Cast Iron bridges opened respectively in 1885 and 1887 Both bridges crossed the river on the Road of Ores, built to transport the ores extracted and sorted in Akenobe and Mikobata to Ikuno. The improvement in mining techniques foresaw an increased in the amount of ore transported, so the bridges were made out of cast iron to withstand the weight of minerals. Mikobata Cast Iron Bridge is the oldest all-cast-iron bridge in Japan and the third oldest iron bridge. There used to be five bridges on the mining road; nowadays, only Mikobata and Habuchi Cast Iron Bridge remain.

                 After being damaged by the 1995 typhoon, Habuchi Cast Iron Bridge needed repairs; the river also needed to be widened to prevent flooding, which led to its relocation. Mikobata Cast Iron Bridge remains in its original location and was designated Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1977.