Doro-Hatchō

What it is

• A scenic gorge located at the borders of Wakayama, Nara, and Mie prefectures.
• The downstream section of the Dorokyo Gorge within Yoshino-Kumano National Park.
• A designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument of Japan.
• A site along the Kitayama and Kumano Rivers known by this name since the mid-1890s.

What to see

• Cliffs reaching fifty meters in height along the river banks.
• Unique rock formations including the Shishi-iwa and Kame-iwa rocks.
• The Tenchu-iwa rock formation which stands forty-five meters high.
• A cave named Kansen-kutsu with a depth of forty-two meters.

Getting there

• Water jet boats operate from the Shigo bus stop near Shingu Station.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.