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Offered languages
- English
Located at the foot of the Shikoku Karst, the Iwayagawa Gorge is a breathtaking canyon featuring a striking landscape of sharply split, massive boulders. The sight of water pouring vigorously from the crevices of these giant rocks and the crystal-clear pools are truly magnificent! Visitors can enjoy fresh greenery in spring and vibrant foliage in autumn while walking along the trail maintained as a prefectural park. After the hike, the program offers a chance to roast tea and taste "Irimochi," a traditional local tea sweet, providing a wonderful opportunity to interact with the locals..
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Your guide will be waiting for you at Akiba square tourist parking lot. , holding a board with the logo of "Kochi Escapes".
Itinerary
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1
We will start our hike from a secluded hamlet in the mountains. The trail follows a stream bed strewn with boulders accumulated over millennia as the mountains above tumble down. Scattered about like a giant’s playpen these megaliths will make you feel strangely small as the scale of your surroundings dwarf you. Your expert guide stops to point out something clinging to the crag. In this landscape of giants it takes a moment to focus on the tiny flower. As your eyes finally zero in, you are enchanted by the intricate beauty of a miniature orchid. As the journey continues, your guide reveals the secret history carved into the canyon walls. Fine lines and striations on the craggy rock faces offer proof that these mountaintop boulders were once part of an ancient seabed. Armed with this knowledge, your surroundings become even more profound as you contemplate the unfathomable eons required to shape this dramatic landscape.
1 hour 40 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
Refreshed, you continue to the end of your hike. As you come out of the woods you find a teahouse on the side of the stream. Stepping inside, a toasty aroma of roasting tea reaches your nose. With gentle instruction you will roast your own tea! Tea roasted, sit by a window overlooking the flowing water and enjoy a sip. Next try a bite of ‘Irimochi,’ a traditional sweet made with tea. All too soon our day together is coming to an end. Take this moment to savor it!
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Availability: March to November.
- Start time: Flexible between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Availability: March to November.
- Start time: Flexible between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
- The Iwayagawa River trail has slippery sections; even strong hikers must be careful.
- You will walk about 1.2 km upstream along the canyon trail.
- Wear non-slip footwear, comfortable clothes, and a hat to protect your head.
- A guide and an English interpreter will accompany you.
- After the tour, you can also experience 'NIYO FLY,' a suspension bridge and zipline crossing 30 meters above the canyon (optional, additional fee applies).
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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