Unexplored region
An unexplored region discovered 100 years ago by a photographer, has become an attractive a region where tourists from all over the world come to take pictures.
Sandankyo is located upstream of the Shibaki River that flows through Akiota Town, in the northwestern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, which is famous for the world heritage sites of Miyajima and the Atomic Bomb Dome. It can be reached within 80 minutes by car from Hiroshima Airport, Miyajima, and central Hiroshima, where the Atomic Bomb Dome is located. In addition, you can enjoy one of the best snow resorts in western Japan in the winter, and the scenic mountainous region of the Chugoku Mountains from spring to autumn. Therefore, Sandankyo is the perfect travel base to stay and travel around the Chugoku area.
The appearance of the gorge
The 16km long gorge is home to many famous spots, including Sarutobi Rock, named after the monkeys that captivated visitors by jumping between the cliffs, and Kurobuchi Pool, which is surrounded by 100 meter high cliffs. As Sandankyo have a wide variety of animals and plants you can enjoy new faces each season. The beautiful landscape and rich ecosystem have attracted attention as a first-class "nature museum,'' and it is often used as a teaching material for nature observation by schools and research institutes.
Hiroshima, the land of "healing and peace"
oshima Prefecture is said to be a land of healing. Home to two World Heritage Sites, the Atomic Bomb Dome, a symbol of peace, and Miyajima, a place with a divine history, Hiroshima Prefecture offers locals and tourists a opportunity to cure their bodies and minds. Akiota Town, where Sandankyo is located, has been certified as a "Forest Therapy Base'' and offers tours that allow you to feel the scent of the forest and the sounds of nature with all five senses to experience the "healing effects.'' Sandankyo Gorge, once an unexplored region, has been preserved and protected through the efforts of our predecessors, and its beautiful scenery has been maintained splendidly.
How Sandankyo was discovered
In 1917, photographer Kuma Nampo set foot in Sandankyo Gorge in search of a subject, and was captivated by the fantastic scenery, and wanted to pass this landscape on to the next generation. He felt that the landscape of Sandankyo was reminiscent of traditional "landscape paintings" with Chinese landscape motifs. With the help of literari friends and local residents, he worked hard to preserve Sandankyo's natural and cultural values.
In 1953, Sandankyo Gorge was designated as a special place of scenic beauty, and in 1969, the entire West Chugoku Mountains area, including Sandankyo, was designated as a national park. In order to preserve the natural environment as much as possible, we avoided using concrete as much as possible and used stones from the valley for the masonry. In addition, the promenade is set higher than the river, so you can experience the beauty of the valley with the sound of water in the background while looking out at the powerful mountain stream.
Sandankyo gorge is young as a tourist attraction, having celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017, but its ancient natural beauty shows us first-class "landscape paintings" no matter where you look at.
Please see here for the latest information on gorge entry regulations.