Kinomata River
The Kinomata River (木の俣川; Kinomata-gawa) flows south from the steep southern slope of Mt. Megadake (女鹿岳; Mega-dake), dropping from roughly 1,700 m (5,577 ft) down to about 500 m (1,640 ft). This 1,200 m (3,937 ft) elevation loss over a short distance of only 17 km (10 mi) gives the river a surprisingly dynamic character, not unlike rivers such as the Little White Salmon in Washington State, the Highwood River in Alberta, or the Afon Glaslyn in Wales.
Despite its energy upstream, the Kinomata River is also known for its crystal-clear water and remarkably cold temperatures, even at the height of summer. The river falls under the jurisdiction of Nasushiobara City, which has invested heavily in preserving the area while keeping it accessible. Low-cost parking, clean lavatory facilities, and well-maintained trails and bridges make the river approachable for a wide range of visitors from elderly couples strolling under the shade of broadleaf trees to young families seeking a cool, nature-filled escape.
For visitors from the Tokyo area, its relative proximity is another advantage: just 132 km (82 mi) north of the metropolis, it takes about 2.5 hours by car when leaving before sunrise, as I did from my home in Yokohama. The river’s gem-blue color is also a major draw. This striking hue comes from the purity of the water and the way tiny mineral particles scatter the sunlight, producing a luminous turquoise glow. These pristine conditions also support healthy populations of ayu sweetfish (Plecoglossus altivelis), which thrive in clean, well-oxygenated streams like this one.
Near the Kyogan Suspension Pedestrian Bridge, the flow of the river slows noticeably compared to the faster currents upstream. This creates several natural swimming holes where adults can wade shoulder-deep into calm water. I also saw sections where parents felt comfortable letting small children splash around in shallow, gentle currents. These calmer conditions gave me enough confidence to stand midstream with my camera, something I rarely get the chance to do, while my border collie, Dale-chan, happily played in the cool water beside me.
What lingered with me most was not any single feature of the Kinomata River, but the quiet rhythm of the flowing water and rustling leaves. The cool air was a welcome break after weeks of summer heat, and the deep greens of the forest seemed to absorb whatever noise I carried in my head.
A quick note of appreciation to FE Sorensen, who helped me curate this set of photos and offered a few fun observations along the way. She pointed out that the large moss-covered boulder with a tuft of grass on its edge almost resembles a fish, which to my mind’s eye, is a mix between a white catfish and a black rockfish; now that I see it, I can no longer unsee it.
Standing in the cold water with my camera while Dale-chan waded nearby, I felt a kind of stillness that’s hard to find in my day-to-day life in Yokohama. The slower-moving water near the swimming holes, the soft light under the forest canopy, and the subtle shifts in the river’s turquoise color gave me a brief but much-needed sense of reset.
Postscript:
For anyone considering a visit, parking is available from 07:00 to 18:00. The fee is ¥1,000 between April 1 and September 30, and free between October 1 and March 31. Weekends tend to be crowded, and the parking lot fills up quickly. I went on a weekday in midsummer, and even then most of the spaces were taken up mostly by local visitors.
References:
Google Maps: Kinomata River・木の俣川
Google Maps: Kinomata-Enchi Kyogan-Tsuribashi Parking Lot・木の俣園地 巨岩吊橋駐車場
Nasushiobara City・那須塩原市: Kinomata River (Japanese)
Wikipedia: Little White Salmon River (English)
Wikipedia: Highwood River (English)
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseFinding Stillness in the Waters of the Kinomata River
木の俣川の流れの中で感じたひとときの静寂
A quiet section of the Kinomata River in Tochigi, Japan, where clear freshwater flows gently through lush mountain forest. I photographed this scene while standing in the cool river on a summer weekday, surrounded by deep green foliage and the soft sounds of moving water and rustling leaves. The calm atmosphere and shifting turquoise tones of the river offered a brief but welcome escape from the heat and noise of daily life.
Location: Nasushiobara, Tochigi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/09/02・14:15
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
31 mm ISO 100 for 1/2 sec. at ƒ/20
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:
・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses
・Explore gifts and merchandise
Location: Nasushiobara, Tochigi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/09/02・14:14
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
53 mm ISO 100 for 0.4 sec. at ƒ/9
