SANDAN-KYO gorge in kenhoku or north hiroshima

the gorge got three Michelin stars

In my case, it was easy to go to Sandan-kyo: simply by car because my husband drove. 
In case you go from city center of Hiroshima, take a bus from the bus center located right in the middle of the city. After a 80-minute express bus ride, you are in a different world. 

My family and I went there once about 20 years ago to eat sweet-fish - because my second daughter aged 10 or so back then was so eager to taste one that we decided to drive where they inhabited and were caught and cooked. This time just my hubby and I went to escape summer heat and hike.

I was a planner of the day trip as usual. I planned to go to MIZUNASHI-GUCHI entrance first and hike to the Nidan-taki (two-leveled waterfall) and Sandan-taki (three-leveled waterfall) area. 

The car navigation system didn't know where it was but google gave us directions. We believed it and followed what it said but google didn't know MIZUNASHI-GUCHI exactly and instead took us to YOKOKAWA-GUCHI, which was a very remote point deep in the gorge we were planning to hike. We didn't see any car coming from anywhere on the way. It was lucky because two cars couldn't pass each other without negotiation. Also no rocks were sitting in the middle of the mountain roads. Very lucky because it was likely to happen. 

With our instinct and map reading, we managed to get to MIZUNASHI-GUCHI without much delay.
We brought lunch from home as usual. Perfect because there was no place to eat or buy food at this entrance. I did a bit of research first so pretty much knew critical information.

After a good meal, we began to walk - easy enough. You should have good shoes and clothes but any one can do this. We were speedy but in no rush. The official web site of the Aki-ota tourist association says this will make a three-hour tour but we did it in two hours and a half or maybe less.
Care free and splendid. We first walked to the Nidan area; did a short boat ride to see the fall. This gives you the feeling that you are completely away from your daily routines, visiting the unreachable. The boat was only for us and nobody came while we were there. Just us.

at the start of the walk 

to NIDAN-taki waterfall

along the rope we go

NIDAN-TAKI

We continued to walk to Sandan-taki, which gave SANDAN-KYO its name. Gushing water in the wild and again only we were there.

you will see this once there 

waterfall, basin, & gorge

AKADAKI or Red Waterfall seen on the way to Kurobuchi pool

The rock looks reddish because of algae 

We came back to the parking lot and drove this time to the front entrance to SANDAN-KYO. Perhaps 20 minutes' drive.

I confirmed Sandankyo Hotel at the entrance that we could bathe there as day visitors (only 540 yen an adult) after a hike and that our car could be parked in the hotel parking lot free of charge. It was about 3:10 in the afternoon when we began to trek. I wanted to catch a boat at Kurobuchi pool. The service ends at 4:00 I knew. Locals said it would take an hour to get to Kurobuchi. So, swiftly speedily we walked and got a ride at 3:45. Gorgeous ride; incredible scenery with cool refreshing breeze. 

pull the bar a few times and a boat will come

boat ride

salamanders live in the gorge

coming back

The trekking route is currently blocked between Kurobuchi and the two and three-level waterfalls area. 

After the hike, we bathed in Onsen, again very privately. There was nobody but me or my hubby in the onsen bathrooms, respectively.

We went back home, feeling charged and proud (because we walked a good distance!)

Next time we go there, we will try the deeper north of the gorge and hopefully a cafe or a restaurant in the Kenhoku area worth visiting. I ordered two books on the net on our way back home, entitle Restaurants in Kenhoku and Cafes in Kenhoku. 

Loving north hiroshima.

To know more about Sandan-kyo, GetHiroshima gives you more. 
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