Ryūōkyō, Canyon in Nikko National Park, Japan
Ryūōkyō is a canyon in Nikko extending roughly 3 kilometers between Kinugawa Onsen and Kawaji Onsen, featuring distinctive rock formations. The Kinugawa River flows through this passage, creating a dramatic display of different colored rock walls.
The canyon formed roughly 22 million years ago through underwater volcanic eruptions that left deposits of andesite, green tuff, and rhyolite. These volcanic layers shaped the rock walls visible today.
The name means Dragon King Canyon, chosen in 1950 to represent how water winds through rock formations. As you walk through the narrow passage, you experience this theme directly, with the river constantly rushing against the steep walls.
The site is easily reached by hourly trains or buses to Ryuokyo Station, where a popular walking route begins. The main path through the canyon takes roughly 90 minutes and is manageable for most visitors.
The canyon divides into three sections with distinctly colored rocks: Shiryu features purple andesite, Seiryu displays green tuff, and Hakuryu shows white rhyolite. These color differences resulted from different volcanic events and mineral compositions over millions of years.
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