RENT & RIDE JAPANOkutone: Terihakyo Gorge & Naramata Dam (Minakami, Gunma)
Okutone: Terihakyo Gorge & Naramata Dam Ride
A valley-winding day ride to Naramata Dam and Terihakyo Gorge in northern Minakami, Gunma, savoring golden larch, broadleaf foliage, and the quiet of a lakeside dam at the tail end of the autumn colors.
- DISTANCE
- 380 km
- DURATION
- 11 h
- LEVEL
- Intermediate
Leave Tashilog Garage early, head north on the Kan-etsu Expressway, and aim for the deep Okutone valleys beyond Minakami, Gunma. Despite easy access from the capital, the stillness of Lake Naramata and the dramatic scenery of Terihakyo Gorge remain a true hidden gem. At the tail end of autumn the golden larch and crimson broadleaf trees blend softly, letting you have the quiet valleys almost to yourself.
Highlights
- Naramata Dam: one of Japan's largest rockfill dams at 158 m high, with an observation deck offering a sweeping panorama of Lake Naramata and the Okutone peaks.
- Terihakyo Gorge: a valley where eleven waterfalls named by the haiku poet Mizuhara Shuoshi stretch for about 5 km, often called the "Oirase of the Kanto region."
- A relaxed cruise along the gorge-hugging prefectural road, a treat for anyone who loves winding roads.
Good to know
- The prefectural Minakami-Katashina road along the gorge usually closes for winter in early November, so always check road conditions in advance.
- There are no parking lots or footpaths at the gorge, so enjoy it from your bike or a safe shoulder.
- Elevations are high and mornings/evenings are cold—bring proper cold-weather gear.
- 1START
Tashilog Garage
Start point (Hachioji)
TIPSStart early. The valleys get dark and cold quickly, so plan to reach Okutone by late morning.
- 2SPOT~20 min
Michi-no-Eki Minakami Suikikokan
A roadside station just off the Minakami IC, a handy rest and info stop before heading deeper into Okutone.
TIPSShops/info 9:00–17:00, light meals 9:00–16:30 (meals from 10:00). Has a footbath and farm stand, and is handy for checking foliage conditions.
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Photo: Syohei Arai / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 - 3FOOD~50 min
Soba-dokoro Kubota
A soba restaurant of 50+ years serving nihachi buckwheat noodles made with Minakami-grown flour—ideal lunch before the gorge.
TIPSOpen in Google MapsSpecialties are nihachi soba (80% local buckwheat, 20% rice flour) and fragrant maitake mushroom tempura. Open roughly from 10:00 until the soba sells out; closed Thursdays (please confirm current hours).
- 4VIEW~50 min
Naramata Dam (Lake Naramata)
A rockfill dam 158 m high on the Narimata River, a tributary of the Tone. The observation deck offers a vast panorama of Okutone.
TIPSFree parking (approx. 40 cars) at the left-bank plaza by the dam crest. The Naramata Service Center serves the famous "dam curry." Foliage usually peaks in October; closed late November to late April, so please confirm.
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Photo: photo: Qurren (talk) Taken with Canon IXY 430F (Digital IXUS 245 HS) / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 - 5VIEW~60 min
Terihakyo Gorge
A gorge along the Minakami-Katashina prefectural road where eleven waterfalls stretch for about 5 km—an autumn-foliage spot called the "Oirase of the Kanto region."
HISTORYThe haiku poet Mizuhara Shuoshi praised it as "Japan's finest autumn foliage" and named its eleven waterfalls. Beeches, maples, and oaks turn vivid yellow and red.
TIPSOpen in Google MapsNo parking lots or footpaths—pull over safely and enjoy the colors from your bike. The road usually closes for winter in early November, so always check conditions first. Foliage usually peaks mid to late October.
- 6FOOD~40 min
Soba-dokoro Kakuya
A long-established soba restaurant in Minakami Onsen with around 250 years of history—great for a late snack and rest before the ride home.
TIPSOpen in Google MapsKnown for Niigata-style hegi soba; vegetable tempura zaru soba and maitake tempura are also popular. Open roughly from 11:00 until sold out; closed Thursdays (please confirm current hours).
- 7GOAL
Tashilog Garage
Return (Hachioji)