Yushin Valley

This place is highly recommended for a date! Of course, also for families. However, the path from the foot of the mountain to the dam is about 3 to 4 km, and it is a bit difficult as it is uphill. There is a parking lot that you can drive partway through (you can shorten the hike by about 2km), but it gets very crowded depending on the season, so if you drive there and can't park, you'll have to park on the narrow road or go back to the parking lot at the foot of the mountain. The first time I went there, I didn't know there was a parking lot along the way, so I walked from the base. When I went there, several cars parked on the side of the road had been tampered with. Door mirror heel drop, 10 yen punch, etc... Therefore, if you cannot park at a parking lot along the way, it is better to return to the parking lot at the foot of the mountain or start on foot from the beginning. In fact, walking from the bottom is better than going all the way by car, as you can get a better view of the scenery, get down to the river, and take more photos, so walking is definitely recommended. The water depth was about 30cm where I went down to the river, so I was able to have some light play in the water. Two short tunnels? There is one long tunnel, and the ground in the long tunnel is rough, water drops fall from the ceiling, it's curved, and it's pitch black, so a flashlight is a must. One person was using a smartphone light, but that person's partner was stuck in a puddle. There may have been two tunnels, a short tunnel and a long tunnel. My memory is vague. The road up to the dam is paved, but it can be slippery inside the long tunnel and down to the dam, so sneakers are recommended. In the summer, there are snakes on the mountain roads, so be careful. And this is important. ↓ Avoid going after a typhoon or after it rains. (about 3-4 days) After it rains, river water turns brown and cloudy. If you go to the water and the water turns out to be brown, it's going to be a sad date. If you don't have that, you'll see emerald green rivers and dams. The emerald green color is not the color of the water, but the color of the river bottom. It's a spectacular view! There are several small waterfalls along the mountain path, so it's fun to look for them as you walk!

As of July 21, 2024, the tunnel leading to Yushin Valley is still closed and can only go as far as Kurokura No. 2 Power Plant. But you can see a little bit of Yushin Blue here too. The pitch-black tunnel along the way is pretty scary with just a smartphone to illuminate your steps, but I encourage you to take the plunge and take a look. You can see the exit light.

It is not a tourist destination and is a scenic spot in the metropolitan area where there are fewer people and you can enjoy nature to the fullest. In other words, it is an inconvenient place that can only be reached on foot, so it takes a certain amount of time. There are some dark tunnels along the way, so a flashlight is essential. A smartphone light will not help.

According to the Yamakita Town Tourism Association, Kurokura Forest Road will reopen on April 1, 2022. (Beyond Kurokura No. 2 Power Plant, Route 7 - Kumaki Dam is closed to traffic) For the latest forest road conditions, please see the forest road traffic information on the Kanagawa Prefecture website. Currently, slope collapses are occurring frequently on the Kurokura Forest Road, so please be careful when driving. *********************** This is a very beautiful valley along the Kurokura River in Tanzawa. It is approximately 9km from Kurokura Tanzawako Visitor Center to Yushin Lodge (currently closed), and the round trip is approximately 19km. It's not difficult as you just walk along a gentle forest road. However, there are slippery areas and falling rocks, so we recommend that you prepare appropriate clothing and footwear. The scenery is spectacular, so you won't feel tired even if you walk for a long time. You can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and hydrangeas in early summer, but the recommended season is autumn. The cool air feels good while walking. On the way back, let's sweat and refresh at Nakagawa Onsen 😁

I visited while climbing the Kurokura River and walking along a forest road. It took about 30 minutes from the expressway to reach the Yushin Valley parking lot, and from there it took about 3 hours to climb the mountain on foot. After passing through two pitch-black caves, you'll be exhausted from the deep-blue scenery! The fatigue was blown away. On the way home, you will have to walk quite a bit...it will be tiring, so be sure to prepare accordingly! When I changed my shoes after going down the mountain, I saw that Yamabiru was sucking blood, so don't forget to take precautions against Yamabiru! Don't go there wearing short sleeves and short pants if you feel like sightseeing!