Nakatsu Keikoku Yunomori is a hotel located at the entrance to the Nakatsu Gorge. Every year, they hold an event called Niyodo Blue Festa and illuminate the gorge with beautiful blue lights from January to February✨????
How about enjoying a light 2.3 kilometer hike at Nakatsu Gorge during the day, surrounded by over 17,000 years old bedrock, and crossing over the crystal clear Nakatsu River via stepping stones and little bridges? You can soak your tired legs in Yunomori's beautiful open-air hot spring and immerse yourself in the fresh air of the mountains. (You can use their onsen for 700 yen even if you are not staying at the hotel!) And at night, you can go out to see the magical glow of the gorge????
The Niyodo Blue Festa light-up starts at 17:30 and finishes at 21:00. Just be sure to check the website before heading out, as there won’t be any illumination on the days Nakatsu Keikoku Yunomori is closed! (There is a calendar on their website and the closed dates are marked in blue)
Learn more about Nakatsu Gorge here!:
https://visitkochijapan.com/en/see-and-do/10014