Kankakei Gorge
寒霞渓
Volcanic rock pinnacles and a deep gorge in central Shodoshima. Ride the cable car over the ravine for views of autumn foliage and the Seto Inland Sea, one of Japan's three most beautiful gorges.
Kankakei lies around Mount Hoshijo in the center of Shodoshima. Its andesite and breccia were formed by volcanic activity about 13 million years ago, and long erosion has carved them into cliffs and a gorge filled with striking rock pillars. It is designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty and, together with Oita's Yabakei Gorge and Gunma's Myogi Mountains, is counted among Japan's three great scenic gorges.
The most popular way to see it is the Kankakei Ropeway, a roughly 5-minute ride from Koun-tei Station at the foot of the mountain up to the summit station. The cars glide past the ravine and rock pillars. In autumn the slopes blaze with red foliage, and beyond them lies the Seto Inland Sea, dotted with small islands, a spectacular view. At the summit observation deck and shop, you can try “tile-throwing” (tossing small clay tiles into the valley to make a wish), or hike down the Omote Jūnikei or Ura Hachikei trails in about an hour. A round-trip ticket costs about ¥2,000. Operating hours are roughly 08:30–17:00, seasonally adjusted.
Getting there: take a bus from Kusakabe Port to Koun-tei Station (few buses, with extra services during the autumn foliage season). By car, you can drive straight to the summit parking lot. Weekends in foliage season are extremely crowded.
Opening hours
Cable car approx. 08:30–17:00
Nearby sights
- Shodoshima Olive Park
- Shodoshima Hishio no Sato
- Twenty-Four Eyes Movie Village
- Angel Road
- Les Archives du Coeur
- Inujima Seirensho Art Museum
- Teshima Art Museum
- Teshima Yokoo House