Oyasu Ravine

Oyasu Ravine in Yuzawa, Akita, is a four-kilometer V-shaped gorge where cliffs rise 60 meters above a river fed by geothermal hot springs. The standout feature is the Oyasu Daifunto: a stretch where heated water and steam burst directly from the cliff face into the river below, turning the gorge into a surreal landscape of mist, mineral-stained rock, and steaming pools. A boardwalk descends into the gorge through sulfurous clouds to viewing platforms beside the vents. Autumn is the most popular season, when forest colors reflect in the steaming water, but nearby hot spring ryokan make the area worth visiting any time of year.