Hikes in Yoro Keikoku Valley 養老渓谷
A breath of fresh air in Yoro Gorge
The Yoro Gorge, in the Boso Peninsula of Chiba prefecture, is a natural beauty and the perfect place for urban hikers in search of nature.
2h30 from Tokyo, in the prefecture of Chiba, here we are in the center of the Boso peninsula, in the city of Ichihara. All year-round, from spring to autumn, nature reveals the most beautiful assets in its famous gorges where the Yoro River flows. To get there, the small Kominato Tetsudo line and its old trains will transport you in a very nostalgic atmosphere in magnificent nature.
To hike in Yoro Keikoku Valley, 3 paths are possible:
The path of the waterfalls
It offers to discover several very beautiful waterfalls on a 4 km long course. A 10 min bus ride from Yorokeikoku or Kazusa-Nakano station takes you to the starting point of Haranodai, then just follow the walk along the Yoro River for 2 kilometers.
The most spectacular is the Awamata waterfall, the largest in all of Chiba province, spanning 100 meters in length and 30 meters in width.
The Kobun-do path
This hiking trail is aimed at more experienced walkers with a route of more than 7 kilometers which you leave on foot from Yorokeikoku station.
A large red bridge introduces your hike most beautifully, before crossing the Yoro River on rocky "steps" and following it in the middle of greenery by the Nakase promenade.
The passage then arrives at Kobun-do, created 140 years ago during the Edo period (1603-1868), when an opening in the rock connecting two rivers was dug for the needs of agriculture. In 1979, part of the vault collapsed, then transformed into a hiking trail.
In autumn, the places are privileged to appreciate the koyo and to go camping and barbecues with friends.
Fishing enthusiasts spend hours by the river teasing the fish.
Umegase Gorge
Wikimedia Commons
The way to Mount Daifuku
This hike is proposed for the most seasoned and intrepid walkers, with a circuit of almost 10 kilometers.
From Yorokeikoku station, you will climb Mount Daifuku, a nice little mountain 292 meters above sea level from which the panorama of the Boso peninsula is worth the detour.
You will pass through the Umegase gorge, forged by natural erosion. 50 meters high, you will appreciate the most beautiful colors of the koyo, flamboyant red every fall. And don't forget your best hiking shoes, because in the forest the ground is often slippery.
After your efforts, big or small, you can stay the night in the area to rest in one of the ryokans in the area, and enjoy the onsen experience. These establishments were created after the discovery of a black water spring in 1914. At Yorokeikoku station itself, you can relax your sore feet in an ashiyu, that's not bad enough!
For further :
Address, timetable & access
Address
Timetable
Take the train to Chiba then the JR Uchibo line to Goi station, then a small train from the private company Kominato Tetsudo. It takes 60 min to travel to Yoro Keikoku Station.
