Settsukyo Park

Settsukyo Gorge, a ravine located in the upper reaches of Akutagawa River, is considered one of the most scenic spots in Hokusetsu, with a 4-km stretch of marital rocks, eight tatami rocks, cliffs, and waterfalls. This beautiful scenery resembles “Yabakei,” one of Japan’s three most bizarre landscapes, and is also called “Settsu Yabakei.

The ravine and its west bank are a scenic park, Settsukyo Park. The park is also known as a cherry blossom viewing spot, with 3,000 Someiyoshino cherry trees, scarlet cherry trees, weeping cherry trees, and Shodare-zakura cherry trees planted in the park, and the “Settsukyo Cherry Blossom Festival” is held in early April every year, attracting many cherry blossom viewers.

Settsukyo Park also has a tree resource garden with a collection of trees from 47 prefectures.

The “Sakura Hiroba” (cherry blossom plaza) on the south side of the park, filled with approximately 800 cherry trees, has a play area for children who want to play, a roller slide, Tarzan ropes, and other playground equipment.

Settsukyo Park also offers four different hiking trails for adults to enjoy. There are many walking paths where visitors can encounter plants and creatures, including a course overlooking the autumn leaves in the Maple Valley and the “Gorge Course” where visitors can enjoy the scenery along the river. The park area is home to approximately 420 species of plants, hundreds of species of insects, and 13 species of wild birds.

On the east side of the park, the Akutagawa River flows through the park, and visitors can see oddly shaped rocks such as Married Couple Rocks and Hachijo-Iwa Rocks. There are also hot springs nearby. Visitors to Settsukyo can enjoy mountain stream fishing, camping, and hot springs.