Omogo Gorge [面河渓]
Omogo Mountain Museum
Omogo Gorge
Omogo Gorge ("Omogokei" in Japanese) is a gorge formed by Omogo River.
It is located about 50 km east-southeast of Matsuyama city.
There is Mount Ishizuchi (石鎚山. 1,982 meters high) about 7 km north of this gorge.
Mount Ishizuchi is the highest mountain in western Japan.
Omogo River flows down from Mount Ishizuchi, through the center of Shikoku Island with changing direction.
Then, it flows into Pacific Ocean to the west of Kochi city.
(The name of the river is called Niyodo River in Kochi Prefecture.)
Omogo Gorge is at the most upstream of the river.
The total length of the gorge is about 10 km.
A walking trail about 5 km long is set up along the gorge.
At the entrance of the gorge, there is Omogo Mountain Museum (面河山岳博物館).
The museum introduces the nature such as animals, plants, rocks, and the ancient mountain worship of Mount Ishizuchi.
There is the terminal of route bus near the museum, and the walking trail starts from this place.
(Cars can run on the trail for more 2 km.)
Kanmon in Omogo Gorge
Photo by Kogashitsu Kabegami
Goshiki-gawara in Omogo Gorge
Photo by Kogashitsu Kabegami
There are some attractive spots along the trail.
Kanmon (関門) is at about 350 meters from the museum.
The river flows through a very narrow route between steep rocks.
Goshiki-gawara (五色河原) is at about 1.3 km from the museum.
It is the most popular place in the gorge and there is a hotel.
Stream around Goshiki-gawara
Kamehara in Omogo Gorge
Photo by Kogashitsu Kabegami
"Goshiki" means "five colors".
They are blue water, black moss, white rocks, green algae, and red maple in autumn.
Kamehara (亀腹) is about 200 meters from Goshiki-gawara.
It is a huge monolith about 100 meters high and about 200 meters wide.
Along the section about 1 km from Goshiki-gawara, there are Houraikei gorge (蓬莱渓) and Momiji-gawara (紅葉河原).
"Momiji" means "maple leaf", and the red-colored maple leaves in autumn are very beautiful in this gorge.
How to get here
By route bus, 1 hour and 10 minutes from Matsuyama-shi station of Iyotetsu railway to Kuma.
Change to the bus for Omogo, about 1 hour from Kuma to Omogo bus terminal near the museum.
