Autumn Leaves on the Irohazaka and Lake Chuzenji

The Irohazaka gives you a different road in each direction. From Umagaeshi, the uphill-only No. 2 road climbs about 440 m over 9.5 km on the south side of the Kegon gorge, and each hairpin carries a sign with one kana of the Iroha poem. The climb covers only the first 20 characters; the rest are saved for the way down.

From Akechidaira on the No. 2 road, says the tourism association, you can see the No. 1 road (its ropeway is closed for renovation). At the top lies Lake Chuzenji, 1,269 m above sea level. Kegon Falls, where the lake drops about 97 m, has the paid prefectural Kegon Falls No. 1 and No. 2 lots.

As of Oct 17, the association reported color starting on the upper Irohazaka and on the lakeside trees and Hatchodeshima. The return follows the No. 1 road on the north side of the gorge. This is the road Isabella Bird climbed in 1878, when it was the Chuzenji road, a narrow path with many steps. Its signs finish the poem on the way down into Nikko.