Autumn Foliage at Kanmangafuchi Gorge
November 1–20, 2026
Free entry
Located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, this small ravine was formed by lava flows from Mount Nantai and features scenic views alongside the clear waters of the Daiya River. The name 'Kanmangafuchi' is said to come from the concluding phrase of a Buddhist mantra dedicated to the deity Fudo Myo-o, whose stone statue once stood on a large riverside rock. Along the south bank, visitors will find about 70 Jizo statues, known as the 'Bake Jizo,' or 'Ghost Jizo,' because their numbers seem to mysteriously change when counted. Upstream, an imposing cliff called 'Kobo Daishi's Thrown Brush' features the Sanskrit inscription for 'kanman,' said to have been carved when the revered Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi threw his brush and marked it into the rock.
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