Oirase keiryū Gorge, Canyon in Towada, Japan
Oirase Keiryū Gorge is a narrow forested canyon in Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, carved by the Oirase Stream as it flows out of Lake Towada. A trail runs alongside the stream for roughly 14 kilometers, passing mossy rocks, dense trees, and a series of waterfalls along the way.
The gorge was designated as a special scenic spot and natural monument in Japan during the 20th century and became part of Towada-Hachimantai National Park. This protected status shaped how the area has been managed and kept accessible to visitors ever since.
The gorge sits within Towada-Hachimantai National Park and is officially recognized as a scenic spot and natural monument in Japan. Autumn draws the most visitors, when the trees along the stream turn deep red and orange.
The trail is mostly flat and easy to walk, running from Nenokuchi at the lake end to Yakeyama near the road. Parking is available at Yasumiya and Yakeyama, and buses connect several stops along the stream, making it simple to walk one way and ride back.
The Oirase Stream is the only natural outlet of Lake Towada, which keeps its water unusually clear. Over 300 varieties of moss grow along the trail, covering rocks and tree roots in a thick green layer that some visitors explore with a magnifying glass.
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