Akago Gorge

It was a valley where a river flows that could be described as a clear stream. The river was very beautiful and there was a pleasant breeze. You can see different faces depending on the season. It is a tourist spot where you can see very beautiful scenery.

Proceed to the left from the old Sakadaru village. Off-road vehicles are recommended as the area is unpaved. You can enjoy the beautiful river at the source of the Shigenobu River and the untouched valley. The mountain surface is prone to collapse and there are some sharp stones, so proceed with caution. There are several dams, and the sound of the water is soothing. Spring water can be seen all around the valley. There were many cherry blossoms along the road towards Yamanouchi, and I was able to enjoy many cherry blossoms from inside the car. This time we enjoyed the season of fresh greenery, but it is also a scenic spot like a hideaway where you can also enjoy the autumn leaves.

If you are using an off-road bike or a small 4WD, go beyond the submerged bridge and follow the forest road along the valley to the far back, near the base of Higashi Mikatagamori. With the exception of a few erosion control dams, the valley flows beautifully through a largely untouched natural environment, with deep, mysterious valleys with multiple large and small waterfalls, and wide riverbeds where you can play in the water. Additionally, there are no private houses or treatment plants upstream, so the water quality of the river is extremely clean and transparent. However, in months with little precipitation, the amount of water is extremely low, so if you visit, we recommend visiting during the fresh green season when the amount of water is relatively high! The forest road has scree dirt, fallen branches, and fallen rocks in places, but it is not a very dangerous road for the above-mentioned vehicle.

From the former site of Sakataru Village, where the Kiji bus stop is located, you will come down a narrow dirt road. There are many places where you have to push through the grass growing on both sides of the road. If you are worried about scratches, you should avoid it. About 900 meters from Kiji bus stop, you will arrive at a distinctive concrete bridge with seven holes. Parking spaces near the bridge are limited, so not many people can park there. The water is extremely clear and has a high degree of transparency. If you go up about 200 meters along the river from here, you will find a beautiful valley with clear water gushing between the huge rocks on both banks, giving the impression of a deep mountain valley.

The rocks posted by other people were gone, so I was able to get there without any problems. However, there was grass growing on both sides of the road, and the road was also bad (I forced my way through it on my on-road bike, but I almost fell over several times). After crossing the stone dam, the road turned into a gravel road (Photo 1), so I walked up from there. If you go a little further, you will come to a bridge, and the scenery there is relatively beautiful (Photos 2, 3, and 4). A cool breeze was blowing through. The forest road seemed to continue on from there, but I couldn't muster up the energy so I turned back. There are other similar places, so I would recommend a place with better access than coming here.