Okuoi Rainbow Bridge

The Okuoi Rainbow Bridge spans a turquoise reservoir in the mountainous backcountry of northern Shizuoka, carrying the Oigawa Railway's Ikawa Line to the remote Okuoikojo Station, which sits on a narrow promontory jutting into the lake and is accessible only by train or on foot. The journey there aboard a small diesel railcar threads through pristine valleys, across bridges, and through tunnels, with mountains reaching 2,000 meters on either side. In late October and mid-November, the gorge turns deep red and gold, and the viewpoint from the opposite hillside is one of Shizuoka's most photographed scenes. Allow the full day and travel at a slow pace.