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The Geibikei Gorge in Higashiyama -cho, Ichinoseki City, is a leisurely boat ride on the surface of the river that flows slowly through a valley with towering rock walls.
The autumn leaves were at their peak on the day we visited.
The round trip from the departure point to the upstream pier takes about an hour and a half, and you can relax while being welcomed by ducks and carp and enjoying the view of the famous strange rock formations.
Large carp swim leisurely in the clear stream, and cute ducks swim on the surface of the water.
Boat trips depart from 8:30am until 4pm (times may vary depending on the season, please refer to the information desk), and you can enjoy the beauty of the valley in all seasons: the fresh greenery of spring, wisteria flowers in May, autumn leaves in October, and snowscapes.
(The prices listed in this article are current as of the end of October 2025.)
What is Geibikei Gorge?
Near the boat dock at the entrance to Geibikei Gorge
of the Satetsu River, a tributary of the River , with rock walls up to 100m high. It has been designated as one of the 100 most scenic spots in Japan.
Shishigahana that resembles the nose of a lion, hence the name Geibi Gorge.
"Shishigahana" is the origin of the name of Geibikei Gorge
The deep valley that exists today was formed as the Satetsu River continued to erode the karst plateau over a long period of time, and spectacular views of strange rock formations, caves, and waterfalls are scattered throughout the cliff walls.
Geibikei Gorge was once an unknown scenic spot, but during the Meiji period, politician and Sinologist Sato Geigan developed it as a tourist destination, and on October 8, 1925 (Taisho 14), it was designated a national place of scenic beauty.
Bust of Sato Geigan, the character "gei" in his name is also the origin of the name
The year 2025 (Reiwa 7) will mark the 100th anniversary of the event, and commemorative events such as the Geibikei 100th Anniversary Festival will be held.
A unique boat ride down Geibikei Gorge
The boatman pushes the boat forward by placing the pole on the riverbed and using his weight.
The most distinctive feature of this boat ride is that the boatman uses a single 5m-long pole to go up and down the river. This is because the current in Geibi Gorge is gentle, and Geibi Gorge is the only place in Japan where you can go down the river by boat without using an outboard motor .
A row of Hirata boats, each leaning against a pole, is about 5 meters long.
The boats are " hirata boats " with flat bottoms and low sides that can carry around 30 to 50 people, and are unique in that they can be operated even in shallow rivers.
During the Edo period, it was used for transporting rice as tax, and during the Meiji period, it was used for transporting coal on the Kitakami River.
The boat on the far left has a roof for use in rainy weather, and the boat on the far right has a life jacket placed on the seat.
On rainy days, boats with roofs are provided to keep passengers dry, and in winter, greenhouses with open windows are installed on the boats, and from December to the end of February, " kotatsu boats " are operated, equipped with kotatsu heaters.
"Cushion-style lifesaving cushion" is equipment that you would rather not use in case of an emergency.
Furthermore, at Geibikei Gorge, experienced boatmen who have inherited the Hirata boat building techniques carefully maintain and manage the boats, so you can rest assured.
A boat ride full of sights
Departing with a full load of tourists!
The shared boats, which are not private, depart upstream at the scheduled time.
We're leaving soon! The boat we boarded this time has a capacity of 47 people, and there's food for carp (duck) at our feet (100 yen per bag).
Onboard sales before departure
Before departure, lunch boxes and drinks are sold at the shop at the departure and arrival point, so we recommend purchasing them and enjoying them on board.
Kyomeiwa Rock, located on the right side as soon as you depart, sparkles as it reflects the morning sun if you take a morning boat ride.
There are 16 strangely shaped rocks on both sides of the course, each with its own name. There are signs with their names written on them near the rocks, and the boatman also provides guidance.
Geibikei Gorge with strangely shaped rocks on both banks
Even if you miss it, you can see the strange rock formations between the departure and arrival points again on your way back.
The carp approaching the side of the boat are all large and plump.
The current is slow but the water is crystal clear, and you can see large carp swimming leisurely.
Ducks chasing the boat to get food
When the boat departs, in addition to the carp that live here, ducks appear out of nowhere to welcome us.
The carp feed at the entrance to the departure and arrival point is a favorite food for ducks too.
Fish food was on sale at the boat dock, and it was fascinating to see ducks and carp following the boat in search of the food, and the food sold on board was selling like hotcakes.
By the way, the average depth of the Satetsu River is about 1.5m, but there are some curves where the water is deeply gouged out and becomes more than 10m deep, and on windy days the boatman can get blown over there and get stuck because his oar cannot reach the bottom.
Even Yusei Kikuchi failed to succeed! Geibikei's famous "Untama Throw"
From the pier, you can walk to see the "Daigeibi Rock" and other sights.
wishing hole under the Daigeihana Rock . It is said that if you throw a lucky ball into the hole, your wish will come true.
The small eye-shaped hole is the "wishing hole" - do not throw stones in!
The lucky balls are engraved with 10 different characters: happiness, fate, longevity, love, wish, luck, romance, bond, wealth, and wealth. You can choose two lucky balls with your favorite characters for 100 yen on site.
There were eight types of lucky balls available on the day.
Legend has it that Yusei Kikuchi, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels who was born in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, tried to get into the league as a child and after moving to the United States, but was unsuccessful.
"Love" and "wealth" were thrown into the prayer hole visible in the back.
Since I had the chance, I also tried throwing two balls, "Love" and "Wealth," but they were farther away than I expected and I couldn't control them properly, so they didn't go in.I'm a little disappointed, wondering if I'll never have any luck with these two balls in the future.
The unique boatmen who liven up the boat ride
It's a fun ride to see which boatman you'll meet.
There are 20 boatmen who will take you down the river, each of whom skillfully maneuvers a single oar to steer the boat, and on the way back they will sing Geibi Oiwake
Boatman Hidetaka Kato has a refreshing smile (he gave us permission to post this photo).
This time, we were looked after by boatman Hidetaka Kato, and sat at the very back where we could best hear his guidance and singing, and listen to his many stories.
Boatman Kato, who steers the boat while singing "Geibi Oiwake," has a truly beautiful voice!
On the way back, boatman Kato sang "Geibi Oiwake," which reverberated beautifully off the rock walls on both sides, creating a very moving melody that I found myself captivated by.
Boats pass one after another, and the boatman's beautiful voice echoes through the valley.
On busy days, multiple boats are set out, and the boatmen's unique, beautiful voices singing "Geibi Oiwake" can be heard constantly, both near and far.
To get on the boat ride
The boarding and disembarking gate is located inside the ticket booth on the right side.
To board the ferry, you can purchase tickets on-site (1,800 yen for adults, 900 yen for elementary school students, and 200 yen for infants), or you can purchase the following three types of tickets in advance from the official website.
Boat ticket
Boat ride with lunch set
Private boat ride (for 1 to 14 people)
With a boat ticket, you can only specify the date, and you will board the boat that departs at the time you arrive, but with other tickets you can specify the departure time.
Large departure and arrival area
In addition, boarding tickets with lunch included change with the seasons, and in the coming cold season you can enjoy a leisurely boat ride while savoring a sukiyaki bento and a warm mini hotpot on a warm winter boat.
Pet-friendly boat ride
Pets can also enjoy the boat ride, so please hold them securely or put them in a carrier bag to prevent them from falling.
Cats and medium-sized dogs can ride the boat for 200 yen if they are on a leash, so why not bring your pet, a member of your family, along for a boat ride?
However, please note that pets are not allowed on the houseboat in winter as it will be covered in plastic to protect it from the cold.
These are the gourmet foods you should try at Geibikei Gorge!
The grilled sweetfish and soft serve ice cream also look delicious.
At the restaurants around the departure and arrival area, you can enjoy 100% buckwheat soba noodles, grilled salted sweetfish, soft-serve ice cream, and more.
Geibi Rest House's 100% buckwheat soba
The rest house is located in front of the departure point. There is a free parking lot in front of the building for boat rides.
Located at the entrance to the departure and arrival terminal, the restaurant is known for its delicious tempura, but I ordered the Mori Soba (700 yen), which allows you to enjoy the full flavor of 100% buckwheat soba noodles.
Since it was "100% buckwheat," I was expecting dark country-style soba noodles, but what came out was white, long, chewy, irregular in thickness, and fragrant with a hand-made feel, reminiscent of Sarashina soba noodles.
The soba noodles are complemented by a sweet broth with a hint of bonito stock, and a pot of soba soup is provided for diluting the broth, which is self-service and available to drink as much as you like at any time.
summary
On this day, we took the boat that departed at 3 p.m. and returned at 4:30 p.m., just in time to see a beautiful sunset, but the boatman told us that in November, the final boat returns at 4 p.m. and it is pitch black.
Although the day we visited was a weekday, several groups from Taiwan and Thailand were enjoying boat rides at the same time, and the boatmen were able to communicate fluently in Chinese and English.
Although we have limited our gourmet introduction to the 100% buckwheat soba noodles at the rest house, next time we would like to share a cruise report on a course where you can enjoy a bento lunch on board, as well as a taste report on grilled salted sweetfish.
Geibikei Gorge Boat Ride ＜Information＞
Tourist attraction name: Geibikei Gorge Boat Ride
Address: 467 Nagasakacho, Higashiyamacho, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture
Phone number: 0191-47-2341
Business hours: April 1st to November 5th, 8:30am to 4:00pm (9 trips per day)
Business hours: 11/6-11/10 8:30-15:30 (9 trips per day)
Business hours: 11/11-11/20 8:30-15:00 (8 flights per day)
Business hours: November 21st to March 31st 9:30am-3:00pm (7 departures per day)
Kotatsu boat: Operates from December to the end of February
Closed: Open all year round (operations may be suspended in bad weather)
Admission fees: 1,800 yen for adults, 900 yen for elementary school students, 200 yen for infants (group rates also available)
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
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