Kikuchi Gorge (菊池渓谷) 菊池渓谷
Closed on 30 July 2026 because of the earthquake, reopened on 3 August: four days shut.
The gorge is in the municipality of Kikuchi, north of Kumamoto, in a stretch of forest where the Kikuchi River has cut into the volcanic rock of the Aso area. It is open to the public with staff on site from 1 April to 30 November, 8:30–17:00; outside this period you can enter, but with no one on duty. Admission costs 500 yen from high school upwards and goes towards trail maintenance and environmental protection; the car park is free. The area closes during heavy rain alerts. After the earthquake of 28 July 2026 entry was banned on 30 July and reopened on 3 August. Check for any new notices before your visit.
Kumamoto
