Ojiragawa Suspension Bridge

The Ojiragawa Suspension Bridge and the Kaikomagatake Shrine beside it are two of the highlights of the Ojiragawa Gorge. Easily accessible via a five-minute walk from the gorge’s parking lot, the bridge is a popular photo spot that affords views of the Ojiragawa River and its clear mountain water. The narrow bridge supports up to five people at a time and marks one end of the hiking trail to Mount Kaikomagatake. In autumn, the bridge is an ideal vantage point to admire the fiery red trees in the valley forest.

Kaikomagatake Shrine is a Shinto sanctuary dedicated to the deity of Mt. Kaikomagatake. The main shrine to the same deity is at the top of the mountain, but since the climb is one of the three steepest mountain trails in Japan with an elevation of 2,967 meters, pilgrims can pray at this shrine instead. The shrine features a small wooden main hall and a raised wooden stage for kagura, a Shinto ceremonial dance with a history dating back over 1,000 years. The secluded grounds, moss-covered rocks, and soothing river sounds make the shrine feel especially spiritual.