Overview
Kiyotsu Gorge is a canyon carved by the Kiyotsu River, a tributary of the Shinano River, extending some 12.5 kilometers between Tōkamachi and Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture. It was designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument in 1941 and is known as one of the three major canyons in Japan. A pedestrian tunnel has been bored for sightseeing, and a hot spring resort lies nearby.
Highlights
- ●A canyon along the Kiyotsu River with a total length of about 12.5 kilometers
- ●Scenery counted among the three major canyons in Japan
- ●A pedestrian tunnel bored for sightseeing along the gorge wall
- ●A hot spring resort located near the entrance to the gorge
History
Kiyotsu Gorge was formed over a long period by the Kiyotsu River, a tributary of the Shinano River, and refers to the stretch from Koide in Tōkamachi to Yagisawa in Yuzawa. In 1941 it was designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument, and it has been counted, along with the Kurobe Gorge and the Osugidani Gorge, as one of the three major canyons in Japan. A pedestrian gorge tunnel was bored for sightseeing so that visitors can follow the canyon safely.
Access
The gorge lies in Tōkamachi, Niigata Prefecture, with the Kiyotsukyō Onsen hot spring resort near its entrance. Visitors can trace the canyon scenery by passing through the pedestrian tunnel.
Best season
The autumn foliage season draws especially large numbers of visitors. As each season shows a different face, visiting in periods of settled weather is advisable.
Map
36.9678, 138.7516 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Begin the visit near the entrance to the gorge
- 2Follow the canyon scenery through the pedestrian tunnel
- 3Take in the flow of the Kiyotsu River that shaped the gorge
- 4Stop by the nearby hot spring resort for a rest
Did you know?
💡 Kiyotsu Gorge is counted, along with the Kurobe Gorge and the Osugidani Gorge, as one of the three major canyons in Japan.
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