Bring: Food and water, hiking boots, long socks or pants, firstaid kit, swimsuit, raincoat, emergency headlamp.

Useful Kanji: ⼤杉⾕ - Osugi dani シシ淵 - shi shi buchi - Name of the main canyon 桃の⽊⼭の家 - momokiyama no ie - Nearby lodge 登⼭⼝ - tozan kuchi - Trailhead

Deep in a valley in Nara Prefecture lies Osugi Dani, a stunning gorge that feels like a fairytale. The hike to get there isn't easy but it makes the view at the end that much more rewarding.

Park at the parking lot and walk towards the power station - from there it’s a 3-hr trek to the main waterfall. There are beautiful views, waterfalls and swimming holes the whole way through the valley. The trail is well marked, mostly flat with an occasional rock scramble and few sections with steep drop-offs. There are often chains to hold for safety. This is an intermediate level hike.

Once you reach the main waterfall (Shi shi buchi シシ淵), enjoy your lunch and take a cold plunge in some of the clearest water you wil l ever see. This is one spot you' l l never forget

Safety A few things to be cautious of

1. In summer, especially in the first half of the hike, you may encounter leeches. I recommend long thick socks &/or long pants to cover your legs.

2 . Unfortunately there have a few reported deaths on this hike from people who have slipped. Good sturdy hiking boots are a necessity and a helmet is often recommended. If the weather is unfavourable or parts of the trail seem too dangerous, please turn back.

1. There is no cellphone reception in the valley so always be aware of your time and location. You should aim to get to the turnaround point by midday so you have enough time to enjoy the spot and walk back before sundown. Bring an emergency headlamp just in case.

If you’d prefer to turn this hike into a more manageable two day trek, I recommend staying overnight at a lodge about one hour from the main waterfall. It's called Momo no Kiyama no Ie (桃の⽊⼭の家) and offers basic but clean amenities, a place to sleep and even a bath! It will cost you 10,000 yen for one night’s stay with dinner and breakfast.

The hut is closed from November 24th to April Tap here for more information