Immerse yourself in the ethereal beauty of Oirase Gorge (Oirase Keiryū, 奥入瀬渓流), a 14-kilometer stretch of crystal-clear mountain streams and moss-covered rock formations in Aomori Prefecture. Located within the Towada-Hachimantai National Park, this breathtaking valley is renowned as one of Japan’s most scenic destinations, especially during the vibrant autumn foliage season and the lush “fresh green” months of spring. Whether you are hiking the flat, accessible forest trails, cycling from Yakeyama to Nenokuchi, or photographing iconic waterfalls like Choshi Otaki, our Oirase Gorge travel guide provides all the essential tips on transport, seasonal highlights, and hidden spots along the river.
Oirase Gorge’s Attractions and Useful Oirase Gorge Visiting Tips
- Where to Start This Scenic Journey?
- Recommended Clothes and Things to Bring When You Visit Oirase Gorge
- Oirase Gorge’s Fall Foliage Season
- The Limited-Time Shuttle Bus Service During the Autumn Foliage Season
- Shimeikei (紫明渓)
- Samidare No Nagare (三乱の流れ)
- Ishigedo Streams (石ヶ戸の瀬)
- Byobu-Iwa (屏風岩)
- Flow of Ashura (阿修羅の流れ)
- Kujuku Shima (九十九島)
- Kumoi Falls (雲井の滝)
- Chōshi Falls (銚子大滝)
- Rental Bicycle Services at Oirase Gorge
For information about how to get from Hachinohe and Aomori to Oirase Gorge, please refer to our article on How to Get to Oirase Gorge.
Tip: Same-day luggage delivery service is available in Oirase Gorge when JR bus services are operating. Refer to HERE for more information and to reserve the service. You can translate the website using your browser’s translation function.
Explore Oirase Gorge With a Guided Tour
If you prefer a guide to introduce you to the charms of Oirase Gorge, how about joining one of the following tours?
- Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada Day Hike with Government-Licensed Guide
- Oirase Gorge & Aomori Fall Foliage Highlights Tour with Lunch
Where to Start This Scenic Journey?
Referring to the Oirase Gorge Map, you can enter Oirase Gorge from either Nenokuchi (子ノ口) or Yakeyama (焼山). We recommend starting the journey from the Oirase River’s downstream, called Yakeyama. Why? Because the view is more scenic when the water flows towards you. While you will be trekking upwards, the elevation is gentle. You will hardly need to catch your breath in this 14-km journey, even if you don’t normally exercise.
If you don’t have much time to spend at Oirase Gorge and want to cut the required travel time through the gorge by half, you can rent a bicycle. Refer to HERE for more information on bicycle rental services available.
Tips:
☛ We highly recommend using the toilet facilities at Oirase Stream Museum before you start trekking the gorge. The next spot where you can do your business won’t be available until you reach Ishigedo Rest Area (5 km/1 hour away).
☛ If you plan to visit Oirase Gorge as a day trip from Aomori or Lake Towada, you can also choose to get off the bus at Ishigedo. Shimeikei and Ssamidare no Nagare can be skipped if you are short of time.
Recommended Clothes and Things to Bring When You Visit Oirase Gorge
Long sleeves, long pants, and non-slippery shoes are essential. Apart from the hot summer months (July and August), due to the significant temperature differences compared to cities in Aomori Prefecture, bringing a piece of thick clothing will come in handy. Also, the following list of items should give you a better experience at Oirase Gorge:
- Water
- Towel
- Hat
- Some snacks
- Bug spray
- Bear bell (just in case)
Oirase Gorge’s Autumn Foliage Season
The fall foliage season at Oirase Gorge is usually from late October to early November. If you are after the cherry blossom, head to other spots in Aomori Prefecture (such as Towada City Government Office Street), as there are sadly no cherry blossom trees around the gorge.
The Limited-Time Shuttle Bus Service During the Autumn Foliage Season
Each year, private vehicle traffic restrictions are in place for about a week, from late October to the beginning of November. Private vehicles, including rented cars, are prohibited from entering Oirase Gorge. So, temporary shuttle bus services are in place to take visitors to various parts of Oirase Gorge.
However, you can’t pay for individual trips. Instead, you need to purchase the one-day bus pass. In 2025, the one-day Oirase Gorge shuttle bus pass cost 1,500 yen. The one-day bus pass was worth it if you made a round-trip between Yakeyama and Yasumiya.
For more information about the shuttle bus, refer to the Oirase Stream Eco-Tourism Project’s Website.
The paper timetable for the bus is available at the terminal stops in Yakeyama and Yasumiya.
A bus timetable and the departure time of the last bus of the day for each bus stop are also attached to each bus stop stand, as shown in the photo. The green banner indicates the shuttle bus stop.
Shimeikei Stream (紫明渓)
Shortly after saying goodbye to the Oirase Stream Museum, you will see this beautiful spot where the clear stream flows calmly on the riverbed.
Shimeikei is probably at its most beautiful during winter. When the river’s stones are covered in white snow, it is as stunning and mesmerizing as Disney’s Frozen!
Samidare no Nagare (三乱の流れ)
Due to the stones on the riverbed, the stream of water is divided into three streams, but they will meet again when they get closer to you.
This is why this area is called Samidare no Nagare, also known as Samidare Stream in English.
The area is also best known for the Azalea Purple Glitters. If you visit the gorge in mid-May, you will find the flowers blooming on the rocks in the river (*’▽’).
Ishigedo Stream (石ヶ戸の瀬)
At Ishigedo Stream, various streams flow in different directions and speeds. The spot is famous because several TV ads in Japan have been filmed there. And the reason why they chose Ishigedo Stream has always been “because the flow of water conveys a sense of cool and refreshing vibe”…
Well, to us, the entire gorge already gives us that kind of vibe, so not sure why they always choose to film there (´▽｀*).
On the day we went to Ishigedo at the end of October, we stayed at Lake Towada the night before. The first JR Bus departed from Yasumiya at 8 am and arrived at Ishigedo around 8:34 am. We were worried we wouldn’t have enough natural light, as not much sunlight could penetrate the forest between Nenokuchi and Kumoi no Taki Falls.
But we were lucky! Not far from Ishigedo bus stop at Ishigedo Rest Area (石ヶ戸休憩所), we had sunlight filtering through the forest, as shown in the Instagram post (especially in the 3rd photo). The photos were taken with our smartphone, with no edits!
So, if the sky is clear on the day you plan to visit Oirase Gorge, get up early for the best of what the scenic valley can offer!
Ishigedo’s (石ヶ戸) Scary Legend
This area is named Ishigedo because a small stone hut is naturally located nearby.
To us, it isn’t exactly a hut that people want to live in (you might feel the same after seeing the photo on the left-hand side). And in fact, it is true! No “sane human being” has ever lived there.
From the legend, the only person who lived there was a beautiful bandit who would assault and rob passing travelers. By pretending to be a weak and vulnerable lady needing help from others, anyone who lent her a hand was stabbed and, of course, lost their fortune…
Ishigedo Rest Area (石ヶ戸休憩所)
Despite the frightening legend, tourists nowadays don’t need to worry about being killed and robbed at the resting area near the hut. Not only do they have the precious facility – the toilet but if you are hungry, you can enjoy proper food at the restaurant!
Important: For our fellow vegetarian friends, please note that the restaurant’s broth isn’t vegetarian. But you might be able to find some vegetarian/vegan rice balls.
Byobu-Iwa (屏風岩)
Byobu-Iwa is the sheer cliff located around 1 km from Ishigedo Rest Area. As an indicator, when the speed of the water flow starts to slow down, look at the other side of the stream. You should be able to see the rugged cliff surface (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
As you can see from the photo, you won’t be able to see much of the sheer cliff from summer until the peak of the autumn foliage season. The overgrown trees growing from the cliff cover the rock’s surface.
So, visit to Byobu-Iwa between late autumn and spring!
Flow of Ashura (阿修羅の流れ)
The Flow of Ashura is probably the most famous spot in Oirase Gorge.
Befitting the name of the god of battle, Ashura, the stream of water flows violently between the rocks and the trees.
If you feel a bit tired and restless, it is a great spot to rest. Sitting on the benches nearby with this magnificent view in front of you, are you sure you want to move on with your journey (≧▽≦)?
Important: Please be extra careful when walking around and taking photos at the Flow of Ashura. The surface can be slippery.
Kujuku Shima (九十九島)
If you manage to make yourself leave the spectacular view of the Flow of Ashura, you will find countless small islands like stones in the stream.
Imagine you are a dwarf (maybe as small as a bird). Seeing the mossed stones with some having plants growing on top, you will definitely mistake some of those stones for islands in the big ocean!
The area is therefore called Kujuku Shima, which translates to “99 islands.”
Kumoi no Taki Falls (雲井の滝)
Kumoi Falls was formed through the continuous erosion of the riverbed by water. However, due to the varying hardness of the stratum, instead of a one-step waterfall, we have a three-tiered, 20-meter-tall waterfall to enjoy!
Combining with the surrounding nature, it is no doubt a spot where you will be taking dozens of photos, no matter which season you visit the gorge (^_-)-☆.
Chōshi Falls (銚子大滝)
Choshi Falls is the main dish of the entire scenery feast of Oirase Gorge. With a magnificent amount of water and the width of the waterfall, it is undoubtedly a masterpiece by nature (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
The Choshi Falls is also known as “Uodome Falls”. Due to the amount of water pouring out as well as its 7-meter height, fish can hardly swim upstream to reach Lake Towada.
So if you fancy a fishing trip at Lake Towada, probably save your time and effort for other activities (^_-)-☆
If you can, we recommend you come to Choshi Falls in the early morning. If you are lucky, you might be able to see the mysterious face of the waterfall when the sun shines through the fog rising from the stream (*’▽’).
Oirase Gorge Winter Tours
The same as the other parts of the gorge, no matter which season you choose to visit Choshi Falls, it will surely blow your mind away!!
Especially during the winter, you can see this stunning icefall. Although it will be super cold, we reckon it is worth the effort for photo-taking sessions (´▽｀*).
Those interested in seeing the lit-up frozen waterfall at night can book a nighttime icefall tour.
For the 2025/2026 season, the tour runs from December 20, 2025, to March 1, 2026. Note that the tours aren’t held every day. For more information and to reserve your spot, please refer to the official website HERE.
Passing the Choshi Falls, you will be at the end of your exploration in 30 minutes. But even at Nenokuchi, the end of the scenic trip, it is still too early to put away your camera. The scenery on the east coast of Towada Lake rivals what you have seen at Oirase Gorge!
Rental Bicycle Services at Oirase Gorge
Strolling through the 14km Gorge takes around 4 to 5 hours. Although the tracks are quite flat throughout, if that is a bit too much for you, you can always rent and return a bike from one of the three places listed below from 9 am to 4:30 pm from early April to early November. This will cut the time required to travel through the gorge by half.
- Oirase Stream Museum (奥入瀬渓流館/奥入瀬湧水館)
- Ishigedo Rest Area (石ヶ戸休憩所)
- Nenokuchi’s JR Bus stop (JR バス子ノ口)
Important: The bicycles available from the above 3 places are for customers with a height of 140 cm and above. Because no cycling tracks are available at Oirase Gorge, bikes for children are currently unavailable to ensure the safety of younger children.
If you read Japanese, you can also refer to the official website HERE.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Bicycle at Oirase Gorge
- e-Bike (mountain bike type): 3,000 yen for 4 hours
- Electric-assisted bicycles: 2,000 yen for 4 hours
- Normal bicycles: 1,000 yen for 4 hours
After 4 hours, the cost is 300 yen for every extra 30 minutes.
Tip: During peak seasons, reservations are recommended. Bicycles can be fully rented out in the morning.
Rental Bicycle Reservation at Oirase Gorge
As the rental bicycle Reservation Website is only in Japanese, please call +81-176-74-1212 or email [email protected] to inquire.
Important: Please ensure you have your ID when you pick up your bicycles (whether you have a reservation or not).
Discover the Scenic Attractions Between Hakkōda Ropeway and Yakeyama
Coming from Aomori City, before reaching Oirase Gorge, the JR bus passes by a series of stunning attractions. If you have extra time, how about hopping off the bus to explore these breathtaking places or even a night in Mt. Hakkōda?
For more information, please refer to our article about where to visit between Hakkōda Ropeway and Yakeyama!
Explore Lake Towada After Your Visit to Oirase Gorge
Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada are two destinations in Aomori Prefecture that complement each other perfectly. When planning your trip, remember to allocate at least half a day to visit this stunning lake.
For more information, please refer to our article on Lake Towada (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
