Kanmangafuchi Abyss

The Kanmangafuchi Abyss is a rocky gorge formed by an ancient eruption from Mount Nantai, where hardened lava created a dramatic channel for the Daiya River. Along the gorge path, a long row of moss-covered Jizō statues in stone — each wearing a red bib — stand under the trees in a solemn and quietly moving procession. The path is about 30 minutes' walk from the main shrine area.

This is one of the best places in Nikkō to escape the crowds that concentrate at Tōshōgū. The gorge walk is peaceful, the Jizō statues are striking, and the moss and cedars give the whole place a melancholy beauty that feels genuinely old. There is no entry fee and no organised tour — just a well-marked path from the carpark near the Ganman-ga-fuchi bus stop.

things to do sight
A story
The row of Jizō statues along the gorge is known locally as the "Bake Jizō" (Ghost Jizō) because it's said to be impossible to count them accurately. Count them going one way and you get one number; count them on the way back and you get a different total. Some say the statues themselves are responsible for the discrepancy.