{"id":40777,"date":"2018-10-12T08:00:04","date_gmt":"2018-10-11T23:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=40777"},"modified":"2022-09-16T12:12:47","modified_gmt":"2022-09-16T03:12:47","slug":"kyushu-oita-yabakei-gorge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/kyushu-oita-yabakei-gorge\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover Japan&#8217;s famous scenic spot, Yabakei Gorge in Nakatsu"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Yabakei Gorge<\/strong> (\u8036\u99ac\u6e13) is an area in central Oita Prefecture that is home to stunning natural land formations and historic cultural landmarks. One of the most scenic spots in Oita, and on the island of Kyushu more generally, it is a great destination year-round, but especially in the fall during the <strong>foliage season<\/strong>. The nearby <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/kyushu-oita-nakatsu-old-town\/\" class=\"ek-link\">Nakatsu City<\/a><\/strong> is the most convenient location for accessing the area, although a combination of train and bus transportation will service travel to Yabakei Gorge from other parts of the prefecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ht-block-toc  is-style-outline htoc htoc--position-wide toc-list-style-plain\" data-htoc-state=\"expanded\"><span class=\"htoc__title\"><span class=\"ht_toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/span><span class=\"htoc__toggle\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\"><g fill=\"#444\"><path d=\"M15 7H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1z\"><\/path><path d=\"M15 1H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1zM15 13H1c-.6 0-1 .4-1 1s.4 1 1 1h14c.6 0 1-.4 1-1s-.4-1-1-1z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/span><div class=\"htoc__itemswrap\"><ul class=\"ht_toc_list\"><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-yabakei-s-hand-carved-tunnel-aonodomon\">Aonodomon, Yabakei&#8217;s hand-carved tunnel<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#htoc-rakan-ji-temple-s-panoramic-view-of-yabakei-gorge\">Rakan-ji Temple&#8217;s panoramic view of Yabakei Gorge<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-yabakei-s-hand-carved-tunnel-aonodomon\"><b>Aonodomon<\/b>, <b>Yabakei&#8217;s hand-carved tunnel<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yabakei Gorge was formed millions of years ago through the slow process of erosion, as the water of the <strong>Yamakuni River<\/strong> dug into these natural rock formations. The most famous scenes of the gorge showcase jagged cliffs and rock faces that run alongside the river and are often covered in dense tree growth. There\u2019s an undeniable beauty and novelty to this scenery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"40791\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164314\/IMG_5939-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Ao no Domon Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40791\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164314\/IMG_5939-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164314\/IMG_5939-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164314\/IMG_5939.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"333\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"40805\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164007\/IMG_0719-333x500.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Ao no Domon Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164007\/IMG_0719-333x500.jpg 333w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164007\/IMG_0719-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164007\/IMG_0719.jpg 853w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Alongside this scenery, Yabakei Gorge is home to several impressive sightseeing attractions. <strong>Aonodomon (Ao area&#8217;s Tunnel),<\/strong> for one, is a 342-meter tunnel that cuts through the part of the gorge\u2019s most iconic mountain range, the 1km&nbsp;<strong>Kyoshuho<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163923\/IMG_0740-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Ao no Domon Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163923\/IMG_0740-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163923\/IMG_0740-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163923\/IMG_0740-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163923\/IMG_0740.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Aonodomon was built during the Edo Period by the <strong>Buddhist monk Zenkai<\/strong>, allegedly after seeing several travelers fall to their death while traversing the steep mountain cliffs. What makes this tunnel so impressive, however, is that it used to be built entirely by hand, using a simple chisel and hammer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40801\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164035\/IMG_0774-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Ao no Domon Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164035\/IMG_0774-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164035\/IMG_0774-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164035\/IMG_0774-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164035\/IMG_0774.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40802\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164021\/IMG_0766-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Ao no Domon Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40802\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164021\/IMG_0766-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164021\/IMG_0766-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164021\/IMG_0766-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164021\/IMG_0766.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Legend has it that Zenkai volunteered 30 years of his life to build the tunnel entirely by himself, although some maintain that other laborers were involved. Regardless, portions of the original tunnel have been preserved and you can walk the tunnel to see the original hammer and chisel marks. The combination of Kyoshuho\u2019s beautiful landscape and the incredible story embedded into these tunnel walls, make<strong> Aonodomon<\/strong>\u00a0a must-see on any visit to the Yabakei Gorge area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40799\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164103\/IMG_0793-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Ao no Domon Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164103\/IMG_0793-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164103\/IMG_0793-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164103\/IMG_0793-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164103\/IMG_0793.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40800\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164049\/IMG_0778-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Ao no Domon Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164049\/IMG_0778-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164049\/IMG_0778-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164049\/IMG_0778-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164049\/IMG_0778.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"htoc-rakan-ji-temple-s-panoramic-view-of-yabakei-gorge\">Rakan-ji Temple&#8217;s panoramic view of Yabakei Gorge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The area\u2019s other main historical site, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/rakan.or.jp\/en\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">Rakan-ji Temple<\/a><\/strong> is within walking from the Aonodomon. On the twenty-minute hike from Kyoshuho along some rural town roads, you\u2019ll pass a series of rice fields and a cute caf\u00e9 called <strong>Nodoka<\/strong>, serving local specialties and <strong><em>kakigori (<\/em>shaved ice)\u00a0<\/strong>in the summer months. Finally, you\u2019ll reach the Rakan-ji lift station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"339\" data-id=\"40812\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163818\/IMG_0700-500x339.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Nodoka Cafe Kakigori Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163818\/IMG_0700-500x339.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163818\/IMG_0700-1024x695.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163818\/IMG_0700.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"40792\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164255\/IMG_5908-375x500.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Nodoka Cafe Kakigori Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40792\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164255\/IMG_5908-375x500.jpg 375w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164255\/IMG_5908-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164255\/IMG_5908.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This gorgeous temple has been said to be found around 645, but actually was built into a rocky mountainside high above the towns of Yabakei Gorge around 1337 to 1338. It is considered one of the grandest temples in all of Oita Prefecture. The most convenient option is a chairlift that runs in both directions to the mountain summit. The rickety chairs will quickly take you halfway up the mountain to the first station, where you\u2019ll disembark to enter the temple grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40810\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163848\/IMG_0689-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Temple Chairlift Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40810\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163848\/IMG_0689-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163848\/IMG_0689-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163848\/IMG_0689-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163848\/IMG_0689.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40788\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164359\/IMG_0603-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Temple Chairlift Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40788\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164359\/IMG_0603-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164359\/IMG_0603-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164359\/IMG_0603-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18164359\/IMG_0603.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"443\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"40871\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163217\/yabakei_01-443x500.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Temple Chairlift Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40871\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A walking path will take you through a rocky underpass, past <strong>dozens of Buddhist statues,<\/strong> and up to the main temple gates. Inside you\u2019ll find magnificent and ancient structures built deep into the cliffs. The temple grounds include a koi pond, a terraced garden, and a temple tunnel that buries through mountain caves before emerging at a small altar with a lookout over the valleys below. Photographs are prohibited inside, but the spirituality and beauty of this temple are irrefutable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40813\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163759\/IMG_0611-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Temple Historic Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163759\/IMG_0611-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163759\/IMG_0611-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163759\/IMG_0611-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163759\/IMG_0611.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40816\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163711\/IMG_0635-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Temple Historic Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40816\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163711\/IMG_0635-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163711\/IMG_0635-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163711\/IMG_0635-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163711\/IMG_0635.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40821\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163556\/IMG_0641-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Temple Historic Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40821\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163556\/IMG_0641-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163556\/IMG_0641-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163556\/IMG_0641-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163556\/IMG_0641.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40822\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163536\/IMG_0637-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Temple Historic Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163536\/IMG_0637-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163536\/IMG_0637-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163536\/IMG_0637-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163536\/IMG_0637.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve finished your tour of <strong>Rakan-ji<\/strong>, you can hop back on the chairlift, which we take you to the mountain summit. You\u2019ll find an open field with benches, ideal for a bento (lunch box) picnic. Also at the summit is a three-story observatory deck. It\u2019s odd to find a freestanding steel structure on top of a mountain, but once you\u2019ve reached the third story you\u2019ll understand why it\u2019s there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40823\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163514\/IMG_0677-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Temple Historic Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163514\/IMG_0677-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163514\/IMG_0677-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163514\/IMG_0677-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163514\/IMG_0677.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-id=\"40819\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163625\/IMG_0688-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Temple Historic Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163625\/IMG_0688-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163625\/IMG_0688-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163625\/IMG_0688-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163625\/IMG_0688.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"40817\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163657\/IMG_0667-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Yabakei Gorge Rakan-ji Temple Historic Nature Scenery Oita Nakatsu\" class=\"wp-image-40817\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163657\/IMG_0667-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163657\/IMG_0667-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163657\/IMG_0667-1170x780.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/18163657\/IMG_0667.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Those three stories transport you above the tree line, opening gorgeous 360-panoramic views of the surrounding mountain range, as well as <strong>Nakatsu City<\/strong> and the waters of the <strong>Seto Inland Sea<\/strong> in the distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Sponsored by Tourism Oita<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yabakei Gorge is area in central Oita Prefecture that is home to stunning natural land formations and historic cultural landmarks. 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