Nestled in Niigata Prefecture’s Tokamachi region, Kiyotsu Gorge (清津峡 / Kiyotsu‑kyō) ranks among Japan’s three great gorges, along with Kurobe Gorge and Ōsugi Valley. Carved by the emerald-clear river and towering columnar-jointed cliffs, it’s a masterpiece of nature.

In 2018, the old pedestrian tunnel was reimagined as Tunnel of Light by MAD Architects, merging art and environment into a surreal, photogenic experience—with a famous mirrored water basin at the end that inverts the gorge’s walls and sky into a breathtaking reflection.

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📅 Opening Hours & Seasonal Access

Season	Hours	Last Admission
Mar–Nov (regular)	08:30–17:00	16:30
Dec–Feb (winter)	09:00–16:00	15:30

No fixed closure days, but winter closures may occur due to heavy snow.

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Admission & Reservation

🗓️ Off‑Season (Nov 21 – Apr 20)

• Adults (high school and older): ¥1,000
• Children (elementary & junior high): ¥400

🗓️ Peak‑Season (Apr 21 – Nov 20)

• Adults: ¥1,200
• Children: ¥500

Peak‑season reservation is required on high‑traffic periods:

• July 19–21, Aug 1–17, Sep 13–15 & 20–23, Oct 11–31, Nov 1–9.
  Tickets go on sale from June 9 at 09:00, and days marked “reservation‑only” do not sell same‑day onsite tickets.

If you hold the “Echigo‑Tsumari 2025 Summer‑Autumn Common Ticket”, no reservation is needed—even during peak times—and you get a ¥600 discount on adult admission (and ¥100 off for children) once at the ticket machine on site.

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Access

• By train & bus: From JR Echigo‑Yuzawa Station, take a Morimiyanohara‑bound bus (~25 min) to Kiyotsukyo Iriguchi stop, then walk ~30 min along a paved riverside path to the tunnel entrance.
• By car: From the Kanetsu Expressway Shiozawa‑Ishiuchi IC, drive ~25 min via Route 353. Free parking available across three lots (total ~155 car slots).

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Experience Highlights

• 750 m Tunnel Walk: Flat asphalt path, wheelchair and stroller accessible.
• Art Installations: Five colored‑light zones with ambient sound create a sensory art journey through the gorge.
• Panorama Station (the “water mirror”): A circular lookout with a reflecting pool—step in for the signature photo showcasing inverted gorge cliffs and sky, especially magical at sunrise, sunset, or autumn foliage.
• Temperature inside: Even in summer, cooler inside the tunnel—bring a light jacket or towel just in case.

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Best Time to Visit

• Year-round, except heavy snow periods (usually mid‑Jan to Mar).
• Spring to autumn: greenery and water reflections.
• Autumn (late Oct–early Nov): dazzling foliage.
• Winter: snow-covered gorge—but may be temporarily closed (check X/Twitter for updates)

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Info

• Address: 2119‑2 Koide‑mizunoto, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture

The superb view of the water mirrors “Hoshitoge Rice Terraces”