AreaNear Miyagi

Genbikei Gorge

厳美渓 | Genbikei Gorge

A National Site of Scenic Beauty and the novelty of flying dango

Photo by Roger Smith

  • Genbikei is a scenic gorge designated a National Site of Scenic Beauty and a National Natural Monument. Easy walking trails along the gorge offer views of the brilliant turquoise water of the Iwai River contrasting with the slate grey of the eye-catching rock formations that line the banks.

    Japanese sightseers will tell you that no trip to the gorge is complete without an order of “flying dango.” These sweet rice dumplings can be ordered at the pavilion perched on a rocky outcropping near the bridge. The dango are prepared by a shop on the far side of the gorge, then delivered via an adorable homemade wire-and-basket pulley system that makes the dango “fly” over the gorge to hungry customers.

    WEBSITEhttp://genbikeiga.com/

    PRINT / PDF

  • Near Miyagi

Details

ADDRESS

Takinoue-211 Genbichō, Ichinoseki-shi, Iwate-ken 021-0101

ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT

About 20 minutes by bus from Ichinoseki Station or Hiraizumi Station.

From Ichinoseki Station: From bus platform #9 in front of Ichinoseki Station (一関駅前9番), board a Genbikei, Zuizan, or Sukawa Onsen Line (厳美渓, 瑞山, or 須川温泉線) bus bound for Genbikei (厳美渓). Alight at the Genbikei bus stop. Bus details and timetables here.

From Hiraizumi Station: From the bus stop in front of Hiraizumi Station (平泉駅前), board Genbikei Hiraizumi Line (厳美渓平泉線) bus bound for Keisenkaku-mae (渓泉閣前). Alight at Genbikei (厳美渓) bus stop. See timetable here.

ADMISSION

Free

CREDIT CARDS

No accepted

LANGUAGES

Limited English

HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE

No

HOURS

Gorge: Always open
Flying dango: 9:00–16:00 March–November

RESERVATION

Not necessary

CLOSED DAYS

Gorge: None
Flying dango: December–February

PHONE

Gorge: 0191-29-2015 (Genbikei Resthouse)
Flying dango: 0191-29-2031 (Kakkoya)

Food & Drink Details

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

Yes

HALAL

No

TABLE CHARGE

No

RESERVATION

Not necessary

Home Genbikei Gorge