Yabakei Gorge

Yabakei is a gorge in the Nakatsu area of Oita, formed where rivers cut through eroded volcanic rock to leave columns and cliffs. The area is one of the region's best-known spots for autumn foliage, which usually peaks in November. Its most famous feature is the Ao-no-Domon, a tunnel that the monk Zenkai and his helpers carved by hand through a cliff over some thirty years, completing it in 1764 to give travellers a safe route. The tunnel and the surrounding Kyoshuho rock walls can be reached on foot from a car park with free parking and restrooms. Buses from Nakatsu Station stop near the Ao-no-Domon. The wider Yabakei area also includes viewpoints such as Hitome Hakkei that are usually reached by car.