Shosenkyo Gorge

Most of them are quite popular among Japanese but still ignored by most of the travelers in Japan.

Best Day Hike Place Near Tokyo

Shosenkyo is selected as the number one spot for gorges in the 100 best tourist sites in Japan.

And is no less than Japan’s second magnificent place, right after Fuji-san in 100 Landscapes of Japan (Heisei era) in 2009.

It is in the northern part of Kofu, about 30 minutes bus ride from the Kofu Station.

This Japanese Nature spot is 5 km long, and there are a lot of unusually shaped rocks: “To-fu rock,” “Camel Rock,” “Cat rock,” “Human face rock,” and so on. “Senga-taki falls” are designated as Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls.

The huge “Kakuenbo” rock is the place for ascetic training for ancient monk Kakuen, according to legends. Other sightseeing spots include Ishimon, surrounded by huge granite rocks.

Make sure you bring a 1 yen coin to tuck into the cracks for good luck. You'll know where when you find it.

At the end of the trail, there are some souvenir shops, restaurants, and vending machines.

Best Time to Visit Shosenkyo Gorge

The best time to visit is in autumn (October-November) during weekdays in the afternoon.

Entrance of Shosenkyo Gorge. (near Shosenkyo-Guchi bus stop)

Two huge rocks lean against each other and form a natural rock gate.

The exquisite balance makes this rock tunnel. You can see a slight gap between two rocks, which might give you a thrill that it might fall any minute now.