Dakigaeri Gorge is 10km long and is located in the midstream of Tama River that flows into Lake Tazawa and Kakunodate Town. You can get there in 15 minutes from JR Kakunodate Station by car; the area is designated as Tazawako-Dakigaeri Prefectural Nature Park.

The name Dakigaeri (hugging back) comes from times when the mountain paths were dangerous and narrow that when people passed each other, they had to hug and support each other to get by.

The beautiful scenery of odd-shaped boulders, waterfalls, the clear blue stream, and the lush virgin forest of cherry trees and maple trees is called the Yabakei of Tohoku.

Many tourists visit the area from mid-June to late August to see the fresh vegetation and early October to early November to see the autumn leaves.

There are walking paths in the Dakigaeri Gorge area, which provide a great experience walking along the river. Some might be put off by exploring a gorge; however, the course is 1.5km long one way and takes about 30 minutes on foot.

Also, there are very few slopes, making the Dakigaeri Gorge hiking course perfect for beginners. We slipped into some comfortable clothes and decided to check out the area.

Let’s stop by Dakigaeri Shrine by the entrance of the path before heading in. In 1673 when the former Dakigaeri Village (current Wakamatsu Region) was established, there was a drought that could destroy all their crops.

The villagers prayed for rain at the water source of Dakigaeri, and the crisis was averted. However, with this, there are still many people who visit the shrine to pray for the guardian deity of rain, sacred waters, dragon god, and sericulture.

We visited in mid-September. The walking path is a single path going through the forest. The sunlight beaming in through the woods and the sound of water flowing gave us a great start to our hike. The trail is wide enough that you can go around people and say hello as you go by.

Walking past Dakigaeri Shrine for 2 to 3 minutes, you will reach the symbol of Dakigaeri Gorge, Kami-no-Iwabashi Bridge.

It is the oldest suspension bridge in Akita Prefecture and was completed in 1926. From the 80m long red suspension bridge, you can get a great view of the gorge and the blue water. It’s a great place to take pictures.

Also, looking towards the gorge's entrance from the bridge, there is a strange rock with a pine tree growing out of it.

This rock is called “Miko Ishi,” and legends say that when a shrine maiden couldn't cross the river to go pray, a Myojin (deity) helped her across.

After crossing Kami-no-Iwabashi, continue walking straight towards the destination Mikaeri-no-taki. There are many great spots to take pictures along the way, such as the river below or the scenery on the other side; there is even a place where you can drink spring water.

Also, the cobalt blue stream, which is the symbol of Dakigaeri Gorge, is breathtakingly beautiful. It is said that the color of the flow comes from Tamagawa Onsen hot spring upstream, which is said to have the most potent acidity in Japan. The abundant aluminum particles in the hot spring scatter blue light, creating a vivid blue color.

Also, the oddly shaped boulders along the walking path or in the river are one of the charms of the gorge. Not only the autumn leaves, but the odd-shaped rocks and boulders make a great photo opportunity that adds to the experience.

Going further in the Dakigaeri Gorge, there is another bridge, and the scenery keeps getting better. Once you reach Seigan Bridge, you are almost at the destination Mikaeri-no-taki. However, Seiganji up ahead is one of the best scenic points in the gorge, and a place we strongly suggest stopping by.

When we saw the sign Seiganji (Seigan Temple), we started looking for a temple; however, the temple refers to the view. The rock walls of the gorge on both sides are closer when looking down from the bridge, and the foam flowing out from the bottom of the stream seems like the smoke that drifts from incense in a temple, and that is where the name was taken from.

If the view from Kami-no-Iwabishi is spectacular, the view from Seiganji is mystical. The approaching rock walls make the cobalt blue stand out, and in autumn, the red, orange, yellow, and green leaves create an amazing view.

After getting past the bridge, you'll come across three tunnels that look like gates to mountain asceticism training grounds. The tunnels are quite dark, and it feels like you are exploring! Just be careful of your footing.

Once you get out, you are at the destination Mikaeri-no-taki, and you can hear the waterfall from the right. The explanation of the waterfall states, “The waterfall is so beautiful that you will look back,” and just like the explanation, the 30m drop waterfall is powerful and breathtaking. If you adjust the shutter speed of your camera, the waterfall will look like silk.

Once you are refreshed by the negative ions from the waterfall, it’s time to turn around and head back. It’s about a 30-minute walk, and it was just the right amount of exercise.

Also, during the Mikaeri Keikoku Koyosai festival from early October to early November every year, there is a shuttle bus from Kakunodate Station and Tazawako Station. During the festival, there are guided tours and special performances.

Since we are here, we decided to head over to another sightseeing spot nearby.

We stopped by Kimpo Jinja (shrine), which is about 20 minutes by car from Mikaeri Gorge. There is an avenue of prefectural-designated national treasure cedar trees at the shrine, which are said to be 350 to 800 years old. At the shrine entrance, there is a Niomon (Deva Gate), and one of the statues was sculpted from a large cedar tree.

Walking through the immensely tall cedar avenue and moss-covered stairs, it feels like you slipped into a magical world.

We were able to enjoy the small walk surrounded by tall cedar trees that reach the sky and magnificent Nio statues.

There are many places you can see fabulous autumn leaves. However, we strongly recommend vesting this scenic spot where you can casually see the cobalt blue stream going through the colorful Dakigaeri Gorge. Make sure you don’t forget your camera when you visit.

*The pictures of the autumn leaves were taken before 2017