KUTSUKI KOGAWA MOUNTAIN & RIVER PARK

Kutsuki Kogawa — A Tranquil Mountain Retreat Enriched by Water and Forest

Welcome to Kutsuki Kogawa Stream Center, a serene outdoor recreational facility nestled in the picturesque valley village of Kogawa, formerly part of Kutsuki Village, in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture.

Just 50 Minutes from Kyoto—but a World Away in Climate and Calm

Located just a 50-minute taxi ride from central Kyoto, Kutsuki Kogawa offers an easy and scenic escape from the city. While Kyoto and Osaka often experience extreme heat and humidity in summer due to global warming, our mountain valley enjoys a refreshing microclimate that is typically 5 to 7°C (9–13°F) cooler than those urban centers. This makes it a pleasant and comfortable destination, especially during the warmer months.

Historic Saba Kaido and the Beauty of the Kutsuki Region

Our center is located near the historic Saba Kaido (Mackerel Road)—a mountain pass route that runs 72 km (approximately 45 miles) from Obama City in Fukui Prefecture to Kyoto's Demachi shopping district. From the Sengoku period through the Edo era, this road was used to transport mackerel and other goods to the capital. Today, you can still feel the living history and culture of this region, surrounded by dynamic and unspoiled nature.

Once a thriving center for forestry, Kutsuki was known for its timber, which was used by skilled artisans known as kijishito create lacquered bowls and trays that were distributed across Japan. Logs were bundled into rafts and floated down the Harihata and Ado Rivers into Lake Biwa, eventually reaching cities like Kyoto and Nara. It is said that even the famous wooden temple Todai-ji, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, utilized timber from this area.

Ado River Basin and the Journey to Kogawa

The Ado River, which runs parallel to the Saba Kaido, supplies approximately 30% of the total flow into Lake Biwa, making it the most abundant river in Shiga Prefecture. Its extensive basin is covered with dense forests, creating a rich ecosystem and a stunning landscape.

From the Umenoki intersection along Saba Kaido, follow the bridge eastward into the mountains. Here flows the Harihata River, a tributary of the Ado River, originating from the deep valleys near Oisugi and Kuta. Traveling upstream, you’ll arrive at Kutsuki Kogawa, a tranquil hamlet showcasing the nostalgic scenery of rural Japan. At an elevation of 354 meters (1,161 ft), the village is blanketed in snow during winter, but from spring to autumn, it offers a pleasant, forested gorge ideal for outdoor activities.

Passing through Kuta, the northernmost village of Kyoto City, you’ll cross into Kogawa, where our Kutsuki Lure Fieldis located just across the Harihata River near Negori Valley.

Cultural Heritage: Shikobuchi Shrine

A 15-minute walk from our fishing and BBQ area takes you to the Shikobuchi Shrine, designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2015. This sacred site honors Shikobuchi-no-Kami, a guardian deity of timber rafting. The shrine complex includes three structures: the main hall (Honden), the Zao Gongen Shrine to the south, and the Kumano Shrine to the north. These buildings, dating back to around 1371, are rare and valuable examples of early Muromachi-period shrine architecture.

We encourage you to stop by the shrine to express gratitude for a safe and enjoyable day along the river.

Access and Parking

From the shrine, it’s a 3-minute drive to the Kutsuki Kogawa Stream Center’s fishing and BBQ area. Parking is available for up to 250 vehicles along the Harihata River on the left side. The fishing and BBQ zones are located just across the prefectural road—please enter on foot.

For those continuing beyond Kogawa, a 17-km scenic drive (about 30 minutes) leads to Onyu Pass, a mountain border between Shiga and Fukui Prefectures, known for its spectacular sea of clouds (unkai) under the right weather conditions. On the way, don’t miss the Oisugi Primeval Beech Forest, one of Japan’s Top 100 Autumn Foliage Spots, located in the Kutsuki-Katsuragawa Prefectural Nature Park.

Important Travel Notes

Please note that the mountain road along the Harihata River is narrow, and vehicles may need to yield at designated pullouts. For safety:

• Drive slowly.

• Keep headlights on, even during the day.

• Large 50-passenger buses cannot access the final 6 km stretch from Umenoki. However, medium-sized buses (up to 30 passengers) are permitted.

We also ask all visitors to refrain from disposing of trash in local village garbage boxes. Your cooperation helps preserve this beautiful environment for future generations.

About Kutsuki Kogawa Stream Center

The Kutsuki Kogawa Stream Center is revitalized from the former Kutsuki Keiryugyo Center, which ceased operation in 2020. The new center opened:

• August 1, 2021: Fishing and BBQ area

• March 2022: Kutsuki Lure Field

• Spring 2022 (planned): Campsite

A Place to Reconnect with Nature

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in a peaceful environment where water, forest, and sky embrace you. Whether you're visiting with family, friends, corporate teams, or school groups, the Kutsuki Kogawa Stream Center offers an ideal space for relaxation, recreation, and discovery.

Kutsuki Kogawa Stream Center
230 Kogawa, Kutsuki, Takashima-shi, Shiga 520-1431, Japan
📧 Email: info@kutsukikogawa.com

Abundant valley water and greenery in Kutsuki Kogawa

Kutsuki Kogawa Mountain & River Park is located in Ogawa, a village in the scenic gorge of the former Kutsuki village surrounded by nature.

Running through the mountainous gorge from Obama City, Fukui Prefecture, to Kyoto's Demachi shopping street, the Sabakaido is an 18-ri long road that has existed since the Sengoku period to the Edo period, transporting mackerel from Wakasa to Kyoto. In Kutsuki, you can feel the history and culture of the road along with the dynamic nature.

In the past, Kutsuki flourished in forestry. Timber cut in Kutsuki was shipped nationwide as bowls and trays produced by woodworkers using a lathe. Round logs for construction were assembled into rafts and transported from Haribata River to Adogawa, then to Lake Biwa, and finally to Kyoto and Nara. It's said that wood from Kutsuki was used in the construction of the world's largest wooden structure, "Todai-ji Temple."

Adogawa, flowing into Lake Biwa along the western shore of Lake Biwa along Sabakaido, boasts about 30% of the flow of rivers flowing into Lake Biwa, making it the largest in Shiga Prefecture. Its vast basin is covered with forests.

Heading east across the T-intersection of plum trees along Sabakaido, crossing a bridge, and following Haribata River flowing from Oisugi and Kuta areas, you'll reach Kutsuki Ogawa, a beautiful river nestled deep in the mountains. At an elevation of 354 meters, it's a snowy village in winter, but from spring to fall, it's a comfortable valley surrounded by abundant water and trees.

Beyond the settlement of Kutsuki Ogawa, after crossing Haribata River, you'll find Kutsuki Lure Field on the left side. Just beyond is Shikobuchi Shrine, designated as a national important cultural property, located on the mountainside to the left. It's about a 15-minute walk from Kutsuki Kogawa Mountain & River Park's fishing and BBQ area, so please visit the shrine to express gratitude for the safe river play.

Shikobuchi Shrine, designated as a national important cultural property in 2015, worships Shikobuchi deity, the guardian deity of timber transportation by rafting. In the covered area, the main shrine is in the center, with Zaogongen Shrine to the south and Kumano Shrine to the north. Zaogongen Shrine was established in the 4th year of Ouan (1371) according to the votive tablets, and the other two buildings are believed to be from the same period. All are single-bay style with prominent surface take-off and Yariganna finish, showing features of the medieval period. Shikobuchi Shrine is an extremely rare structure that preserves three buildings from the early Muromachi period as a whole, and it is important in the construction of medieval shrines in Japan. It also holds high value in conveying the aspect of Shikobuchi faith that developed independently in the Adogawa basin (source: Agency for Cultural Affairs National Designated Cultural Property Database).

A three-minute drive from Shikobuchi Shrine will take you to the fishing and BBQ area of Kutsuki Kogawa Mountain & River Park. There is a parking lot (capacity: 250 cars) along Haribata River on the left side, so please use it. The fishing and BBQ area is on the opposite side of the prefectural road from the parking lot, so please enter on foot.

From Kutsuki Kogawa Mountain & River Park, if you continue about 17 km (approximately 30 minutes by car) towards Obama on the Japan Sea, you will reach the O-nyu Pass located on the border between Shiga and Fukui prefectures. Known for its breathtaking views, you might be able to see the spectacular sea of clouds in the O-nyu Valley if weather conditions are right. Just before O-nyu Pass, there is a primeval beech forest of Oisugi selected as one of the Top 100 Autumn Foliage Spots. It is located in the Kutsuki-Kuzugawa Prefectural Nature Park area, on the northwest side of Kutsuki, on the mid-slope of Mikuni Pass (excerpt: Bihoku Lake Shiga Island Tourism Association).

The road along Haribata River is narrow, making it difficult for cars to pass each other. Therefore, there are widened shoulders at key points for passing. When coming by car, please keep your speed down, and even during the day, turn on your headlights to be considerate to oncoming traffic. The 6 km stretch from Ume-no-Ki does not allow entry for large buses carrying 50 passengers, but medium-sized buses carrying 30 passengers are allowed.

When returning, please dispose of garbage and waste in the village's waste collection boxes and cooperate in maintaining the village's environment.

Kutsuki Kogawa Mountain & River Center has renovated all facilities of the "Former Kutsuki Keiryu Fish Center," which closed in 2020. The fishing and BBQ area started operations on August 1, 2021. Kutsuki Lure Field is scheduled to open in March 2022, and the campsite is being developed for opening in spring 2022.

Escape from the convenience, hustle, and bustle of everyday urban life to unwind in the inconvenience, tranquility, and nature. Use it as a place for relaxation with family and friends or for corporate and school training and recreation.

Kutsuki Kogawa Mountain & River Center

230 Kutsuki Ogawa, Takashima City, Shiga 520-1431

Email: info@kutsukikogawa.com

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