Nakatsugawa Gorge

Nakatsugawa Gorge follows ten kilometers of river through old-growth forest in the Urabandai area of Fukushima, with volcanic rock exposed along the riverbed where the Nakatsugawa River has slowly eroded the sediment above it over millions of years. Wild cherry trees flush pink in spring, and the autumn color along the gorge ranks among the most vivid in the region. The gorge is also home to deer, wild boar, and Asiatic black bear. A 1.5-kilometer beginner-friendly hiking route descends from Lake Akimoto via steep stairs to the exposed riverbed, giving a close-up view of the geological formations below.