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Kiyotsukyo Gorge Tunnel

Little knownBarely documented in English. This is the kind of place the site exists for.

Researched and written by Hinato

gorgetunnelobservation chamberKiyotsukyomodern art

Photo: Yasuyuki_Kawano / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · original

Niigata has plenty of scenery; Kiyotsukyo Gorge Tunnel is the kind that's worth planning a whole day around.

Kiyotsukyo Gorge is a 750-meter-long ravine carved by the Kiyotsu River through solid granite, with vertical cliffs rising 50–100 meters on both sides. The gorge was inaccessible until 1996 when a pedestrian tunnel was blasted through the cliff face, allowing visitors to walk inside the mountain while observing the gorge through periodic window openings. In 2018, the tunnel was redesigned by artist Ma Yansong, who installed a mirrored stainless-steel 'Periscope' observation chamber at the tunnel's end — a polished metal box suspended over the emerald river water, reflecting both gorge walls and sky to create an infinite-mirror effect.

The gorge water is an otherworldly turquoise color (mineral suspension from upstream granite erosion) year-round, but is most vivid October–November when low water flow and autumn sunlight intensify the blue-green hue.

Visiting essentials

Best season

Late October–early November for turquoise water + crimson autumn foliage; visit 10:00–14:00 for best Periscope chamber lighting

How long to allow

1–1.5 hours round-trip through tunnel including Periscope observation chamber

Hours

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Closed: Closed January–March due to snow

Entry fee

¥1,000

Getting there

Access notes

Koide, Tokamachi City. A drive from Echigo-Yuzawa Station or 60-min local bus (infrequent service, check schedule). Tunnel admission: ¥1,000. Walking time: 30–40 min round-trip.

Local knowledge

**Periscope observation timing:** The reflective chamber is most photogenic 10:00–14:00 when sunlight penetrates the deep gorge and illuminates the chamber interior. Bring a lens cloth — the mirrored surfaces show fingerprints and water spots. The chamber can hold approximately 15 people; on weekends expect 10-min waits to enter. **Tunnel lighting:** The Ma Yansong redesign includes LED installations that shift color based on season — blue-white in winter, green in spring, gold in autumn. **Autumn color:** The gorge rim supports deciduous forest (mostly maple and beech) that turns crimson and orange late October to mid-November. The contrast of turquoise water, autumn foliage, and gray granite cliffs is the iconic Kiyotsukyo image. Peak color usually occurs November 1–7.

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