羅生門

Rashōmon Natural Bridges

Useful Information

Location:	From Ikura follow road 50 uphill to Kusama. Turn right at the Bihoku Land Improvement Zone, follow road to the end. (34.93845, 133.55990)
Open:	no restrictions. [2020]
Fee:	free. [2020]
Classification:	Natural Bridge Collapsed Cave
Light:	n/a, bring torch
Dimension:	A=400 m asl.
Guided tours:	n/a
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Rashōmon, Niimi, Okayama 719-2641, Tel: +81-867-72-6136.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

25-AUG-1930	Atetsudai karst declared a National Natural Monument.
2007	listed as one of Japan's 100 best geological features.
2017	falling rocks.
2018	falling trees.
JUL-2018	heavy rain caused damages to the trail.

Description

羅生門 (Rashōmon) is the name of a city gate, either in Nara or in Kyoto. Film enthusiasts probably know the movie Rashōmon by Akira Kurosawa which was named after the Kyoto gate. This place is also called Rashōmon, meaning a Natural Bridge.

Starting from a small parking lot there is a trail through the forest. There are actually four cave ruins or natural bridges, and there is a wooden platform to view the most impressive one. Once there was a single cave, but the ceiling became too thin, and it collapsed from its own weight. Only the places where the ceiling was thicker remained.

The trail connects the bridges and caves, and it is possible to easily enter the caves on the trail, but we recommend sturdy walking shoes and a flashlight. Be careful at the first natural bridge because there is the danger of rock fall. This arch is 38 m high and 17 m wide and is the actual Rashōmon. On the other side there is a group of two bridges which are connected. The fourth bridge is actually a semi wild cave, which is 300 m long and ends at a sump.

The site is partly closed, it is only possible to walk to the first lookout at the first natural bridge. It seems there were numerous events during 2017 and 2018, falling rocks, falling trees, and a heavy rain which damaged the trails. Instead of securing the area the official obviously decided to just close the site. As the first natural bridge, the only one which is still accessible, is also the least spectacular one, the site has unfortunately lost most of its appeal. Rockfall is a natural thing, and it is always advisable to be careful, and we would never suggest to ignore the signs and go anyway.