Roadside station Oboke, Roadside station and stone museum in Miyoshi, Japan.
Roadside Station Oboke is a two-story facility located along Route 32 with an observation deck overlooking the Oboke Gorge and its rock formations. The building provides views of steep canyon walls and the river valley far below.
The facility opened in September 1996 and underwent major renovation work between 2006 and 2008. This modernization roughly doubled the available space and significantly improved visitor amenities.
The ground floor displays a statue of King Enma from Japanese mythology, while supernatural creatures from local folklore appear throughout the building. These figures reflect stories that have been told in this mountain region for many generations.
The location is open during daytime hours, with the observation deck best visited in the afternoon when sunlight illuminates the gorge. The building has entrance areas and stairs that can be navigated with some attention.
The second floor houses a mineral museum with specimens from the region, including notable rock collections and fossils. Some of these pieces come from unexpected sources that illustrate the geological story of the area.
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