The Tsurube-Otoshi Pass

The Tsurube-Otoshi Pass on the Aomori-Akita border takes its name from the 200-meter sheer cliffs travelers once had to cross before a tunnel opened in 1985. The geology here is visually striking: sun-exposed slopes eroded more heavily, leaving exposed white tuff ridges, while shadier slopes hold slower-melting snow and dense deciduous shrubs mixed with Sawara cypress and Japanese cedar, making this a well-known spot for autumn foliage. At the gorge floor, the old Daira Mine road follows the Fujikoto River, a remnant of a copper mine that operated from the 17th century until 1958 and once supported a settlement of over 900 people.