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A 50-minute drive from Sendai Station, along the Natori River that runs alongside Akiu Onsen, is a gorge lined with strangely shaped rocks
It is about 1 kilometer upstream and downstream from the intersection at the entrance to Akiu Onsen. Its name is Rairaikyo Gorge
As you can see from the kanji in the name, the highlight is all about stones! Stones! Stones! There you can see the stone art created by nature over thousands of years
By the way, the name was given by Komiya Toyotaka, a student of Natsume Soseki and a scholar of German literature. Don't you think it's a very stylish name that expresses the overwhelming scenery of the stones?
Recently, Rairaikyo Gorge has become famous as a sacred place for couples! If you take a look at Instagram, you'll see that new pictures are uploaded every weekend!
This time, we will introduce Rairaikyo Gorge, a famous spot in Akiu that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders!
A promenade lined with strange rock formations!
The entrance to the Rairaikyo Gorge walking trail is right off National Route 48. It is located at the Akiu Onsen Entrance intersection, next to a bridge called Nozokibashi
The promenade is about 680m downstream from Nozokibashi Bridge
The path is surrounded by trees and rocks, and the Nozokibashi Bridge is nicely shaded, so it's not too hot even in summer, which is nice. It takes less than an hour to enjoy, so you'll want to take a leisurely stroll while listening to the sound of the flowing river. As soon as we entered the promenade, a number of strangely shaped rocks appeared before us
Here are some representative rocks:
Kimeniwa (Strange Face Rock)Hachikeniwa RockTeno Rock
With absolutely no prior knowledge
"This is the strange rock."
It's a name that certainly makes sense. It would be fun to try naming your favorite rock yourself!
The rocks aren't the only thing worth seeing. The flowers blooming along the trail also add to the enjoyment of your walk
The image shows the scenery in July when I walked. July is hydrangea season in Akiu. One of the charms of walking around Rairaikyo Gorge is being able to appreciate nature in all four seasons.
Is Rairaikyo Gorge Instagrammable? What are the recommended spots that are popular among young people?
It is only recently that Rairaikyo Gorge has become a popular spot for young couples
was certified as a lovers' sanctuary, "Nozokibashi♡Heart,"the "Lovers' Sanctuary Project," organized by fashion designer Yumi Katsura
Nozokibashi is a bridge located at the Akiu Onsen Entrance Intersection. It is the entrance to the walking trail. What would happen if you could look down at Rairaikyo Gorge from the bridge?
It's surprisingly easy to find, so it's recommended not only for couples but also for families with small children!
Be sure to look for them before you take a walk on the promenade, or before you finish your walk and take a break!
What to do after enjoying Rairaikyo Gorge?
Rairaikyo Gorge is located near Akiu Onsen
After enjoying your walk, you'll probably want to head to a hot spring, but before that, why not take a stroll around some of the spots that you can only enjoy in Akiu? NEFT has featured some of Akiu's tourist spots. Let's introduce some of them here
Sendai Kaleidoscope Museum
A rare museum in the world that mainly deals with kaleidoscopes
You can look through a variety of kaleidoscopes inside the museum
You can also experience making your own one-of-a-kind kaleidoscope, which will delight even small children!
A representative facility of Akiu where you can buy local produce and souvenirs
There are many ways to enjoy yourself, such as taking a break and eating Sanshoku-yaki or Akiu Oden at the food court, or checking out the handmade market that is held on weekends! You should definitely try the tea foot bath "Chapporin"
An ordinary supermarket that sells Akiu Ohagi, has people lining up to buy it
Your trip to Akiu wouldn't be complete without trying Akiu Ohagi, which are so delicious you can eat as many as you want! They may sell out in the afternoon, so be sure to get some in the morning!
A writer with thinning hair who loves traveling and laughter. A nice guy who hides his thinning hair by shaving! He travels from north to south to bring smiles to Tohoku with his writing!
![Shimanuki Kokeshi Tin 00](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_1740-150x150.jpg.webp "Shimanuki's "Kokeshi Tin" is a Sendai souvenir that will tickle your collector's fancy! [Miyagi Prefecture]")
