I love gorges, I want to conquer the three great gorges of Japan

Hello, this is Miko.

This time, the topic is "conquering the three great gorges of Japan".

I love gorges and have visited several so far. I love the time spent walking while listening to the sound of water, surrounded by greenery. The scenery created by rocks, trees, and flowing water is powerful, yet it also feels somewhat calming. I feel like I experience the sensation of "being in nature" most strongly when I am walking through a gorge.

Actually, I've been to quite a few

Looking back, I realized I've actually been to quite a few places. Shosenkyo (Yamanashi Prefecture), Naruko Gorge (Miyagi Prefecture), Genbikei Gorge (Iwate Prefecture), Ryuokyo Gorge (Tochigi Prefecture), Akigawa Valley (Tokyo), Yoro Valley (Chiba Prefecture), Korankei (Aichi Prefecture), and so on. Plus, I've been to the Kurobe Gorge twice. Seeing them listed like this, I thought to myself, "I've actually been to quite a lot."

It seems there are the "Three Great Gorges of Japan"

Among them, what I'm interested in is the "Three Great Gorges of Japan." It is said that the Kurobe Gorge in Toyama Prefecture, the Kiyotsu Gorge in Niigata Prefecture, and the Osugidani Valley in Mie Prefecture are called this. Although I have visited many gorges, when looking at this "three great" framework, I have only conquered the Kurobe Gorge. Since I have visited so many gorges, I want to conquer all three of these great gorges.

Let's dig deeper into each one

Kurobe Gorge (Toyama Prefecture)
This is a V-shaped gorge, said to be the deepest in Japan, carved out by the Kurobe River between the Tateyama and Ushiro-Tateyama mountain ranges. It was designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and a Special Natural Monument of Japan in 1964, and it is also selected as one of the 100 Hidden Wonders of Japan. The main way to enjoy it is the trolley train that connects Unazuki Station to Keyakidaira Station. It runs slowly for about 1 hour and 20 minutes one way, passing through 41 tunnels and 21 bridges over a total length of 20.1 km. The best time to see the autumn leaves is said to be from mid-October to mid-November.

Note that until September 30, 2026, due to the impact of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the train is only operating on a round-trip basis between Unazuki and Nekomata, and it is not possible to go as far as Keyakidaira. Full service is scheduled to resume from October 1, but it may change depending on the progress of restoration work.

Osugidani Valley (Mie Prefecture)
Located in the upper reaches of the Miya River flowing through Odai Town, Mie Prefecture, it is said to be within the Yoshino-Kumano National Park and is also included in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The hiking course is about 6.5 km long, and the required time is said to be about 5 hours. The place called Shin-fuchi, which you see first, is famous for its spectacular view. There are also said to be hundreds of waterfalls. The best time to see the autumn leaves is from October to late November. Among the three, this is the place that seems to require the most preparation and physical strength.

Kiyotsu Gorge (Niigata Prefecture)
It was designated as a Joshin'etsukogen National Park in 1949 and is also a national Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument. Huge cliffs standing on both sides of the Kiyotsu River create a V-shaped grand gorge, and the highlights are said to be the columnar jointed rock surfaces and the emerald green clear stream. The Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel, which is the main highlight, was renovated in 2018 as the "Tunnel of Light" artwork for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. Business hours are from 8:30 AM to the last entry at 4:30 PM, and access is 25 minutes by bus from JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station. Since it is well-maintained and easy to walk, it seems like a place you can visit casually.

So, why can't I do it now?

The reasons are physical strength and the difficulty of the hike. In particular, the Osugidani Valley is considered a course for intermediate hikers, and with my current physical strength, it seems difficult to challenge it without prior preparation. Although the Kiyotsu Gorge is relatively easy to walk, I want to build up my physical strength properly before attempting it.

So,

Since I have already conquered Kurobe Gorge, all that remains are Kiyotsu Gorge and Osugidani. Including places I have visited before like Shosenkyo, Naruko Gorge, and Korankei, I will continue my gorge-hopping journey, but first, I want to walk through all three of these great gorges on my own two feet.

I have added one more joy of walking in nature to my bucket list. That is all for today.