WakayamaTravel

Gaze up at a colossal 100m rock wall from the riverbed and savor spectacular scenery of clear waters and oddly-shaped rocks

About this spot

A single massive boulder about 100m high and 500m wide towers from the Koza River's clear waters—a National Natural Monument and symbol of the town. Regarded as Japan's largest one-piece rock, viewing it from the opposite riverbank fills your entire field of vision with the rock wall, and you can't help but gasp at its scale. The rock bears a legend about a "guardian dog" that chased away a rock-eating demon, and seasonally the dog's silhouette appears on the rock face. If you descend to the riverbed, you can frame the crystal-clear waters and massive rock in a single photograph—a perfect shooting spot. Standing side by side with friends and gazing up, you'll feel the full contrast between your own smallness and nature's immensity. This is the standout scenic masterpiece of the course.

Tips

Park at the free parking lot of Roadside Station Ichimai Rock and it's just a short walk. You can descend to the opposite riverbank to see the full view, but wear shoes with good traction since stones are scattered about. Use a wide-angle or panoramic mode on your camera to capture the entire rock wall. Admission is free and viewing is unrestricted.