Shosenkyo Gorge

Shosenkyo Gorge is known as one of the most beautiful gorges in Japan and counts among Yamanashi Prefecture’s most popular destinations for nature tourism. The gorge is part of the large Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, which spans Yamanashi, Saitama, and Nagano prefectures as well as the Tokyo metropolis. The gorge is filled with scenic natural wonders that are simply breathtaking.

Shosenkyo runs between granite mountains north of Kofu. The gorge has a roughly 5-kilometer walking trail (about one and a half hours’ walk) going from Nagatorobashi Bridge to the Sengataki Waterfall. The trail runs beside a river, passing several natural rock formations that resemble different shapes, including a mushroom, a cannon, and even Mount Fuji.

The most impressive rock formation in the gorge is its highest point: the peak known as Kakuenpo. Named after the Buddhist monk Kakuen, who practiced there, the peak stands about 180 meters high on the opposite side of the gorge from the walking trail and serves as the symbol of the gorge. Opposite Kakuenpo is the Ishimon, a granite rock formation in the shape of a large gateway. The huge rock that forms the top of the gate is slightly separated from the rocks beneath it. Despite its seeming instability, the Ishimon stands firm and is considered both a scenic and a spiritual place.

Beyond the Ishimon is the Sengataki Waterfall, one of the most beautiful sites in Shosenkyo. The roughly 30-meter-tall waterfall looks particularly appealing when flanked by snow and ice in winter or blanketed by red leaves in autumn. On a plateau above the waterfall are several shops, cafes, and restaurants, along with the Shosenkyo Ropeway, which takes visitors to a lookout point with panoramic views of the Southern Alps and Mt. Fuji when the weather is clear.