Super lucky seven in a sacred spot

It’s a wonderful season for hiking in Japan! Nakatsu Gorge is dressed up in its finest fall colors, greeting those who visit the 2.3-kilometer trail along the Nakatsu River. At the end of the path awaits Uryu no Taki waterfall. Look up and you’ll see a rope over the falls, indicating you’re in a sacred Shinto spot. The rope in fact serves as a dividing line between our world and the realm where the gods dwell

Speaking of gods, you’ll also encounter stone statues of the shichifukujin (Seven Gods of Fortune) during your hike along the gorge. They’re quite the multicultural group with roots in India’s Hinduism, China’s Buddhism and Japan’s Shinto. They originally operated solo but somewhere along the line joined forces to form a “super lucky” group of seven. Nobody is quite sure when this happened, but common speculations point to the 15th or 16th century

The Nakatsu River is a tributary of the Niyodo River, famous for its cobalt water. So, if good fortune and good weather are on your side, you’ll also get to see the brilliant “Niyodo Blue” color in the water as you walk across little bridges and stepping stones

Discover more hiking trails along the Niyodo River: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/highlights/niyodoriver