Tenryū River, Major river system in Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Tenryū is a river in Japan that flows over 213 kilometers (132 miles) from Lake Suwa through three prefectures to the Philippine Sea. Several dams along its course form reservoirs and gorges surrounded by dense forests and steep rock faces.
Two major floods during the Nara period in the 8th century led the population to call the river violent. Since the 1930s, the course has been fundamentally altered by the construction of hydroelectric plants.
The name comes from the Chinese word for heavenly dragon, reflecting the power of the water. Fishermen and boat operators still use traditional methods inherited from the Edo period to show visitors the river landscape.
The upper sections are best visited in spring and autumn when the weather is mild and the forests change color. Boat tours through the gorge run year-round, with heated kotatsu floors provided in winter.
The gorge features heated kotatsu floors in the tour boats during winter, keeping passengers warm while traveling through narrow passages between cliffs. The combination of cold air and warm floor creates a particular experience.
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