Miyagi · Sendai
38.2303°N, 140.6962°E
The Natori river cuts a gorge twenty metres deep through rock at Akiu, right at the entrance to the hot spring village, and a walking path of about 650 metres runs along the rim past named features — Hakkengan, Kimen-gan, Shigure-daki, Misuji-daki. The rock is close and overhanging in places, and the noise of the water is constant.
At Nozoki-bashi, the bridge in the middle, a heart-shaped hollow has been worn into the rock below, which the city has certified as a lovers' sanctuary and which most visitors now come for. That is a fair summary of the place: a genuinely dramatic small gorge that happens to have a photogenic accident in it. Parking is free, it is a few minutes from the hot spring inns, and it costs nothing.
Essential Information
Opening Hours
Open access | Daylight only
Closed: Open year-round
Entrance Fee
Free | Free parking
Best Season
Late October–early November for autumn colour | May for fresh green
Visit Duration
45–60 minutes
Getting There
Access Information
Insider Guide
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