What other travelers are saying about Kanmangafuchi Abyss
It's a short walk along path from bus stop 10 or 11. Or you can walk from the bridge along the road and take the first left turn. Just follow the road heading to the river. Pass over the bridge and keep following small road uphill, which then turns into a path. River is flowing with a lot of water. Path is good. Some statues have over the years been damaged somehow, but they are still respected as is the tradition. They are still sacred. There are several groups. It's worth visiting and not crazy numbers of people.
There are a lot more Abyss statue along the way but some visitors just took photos at the beginning of the first stretch of the statue and left. Even though the scene looks very similar along the rest of the stretch but each Abyss statue is different and along the way there are sign boards with explaination in multiple language that helps with understanding of the history behind it. A good stroll along the river banks as well. Winter gives it a different vibe.
Kanmangafuchi Abyss is a peaceful and slightly eerie trail in Nikko, Japan. The highlight is the line of moss-covered Jizo statues with red aprons. There’s a legend that the number of statues changes every time you count them—we tried and definitely got spooked!
We went at dusk and found parking near the entrance (only 3-4 spots). The trail is unpaved and unlit, so it might be tricky for older visitors, but the walk next to the stream was beautiful. The moss and red aprons really pop against the surroundings, making it a photo-worthy spot. Just make sure to go when there’s more light out for the additional photography contrast.
Overall, it’s a unique and calming experience. But apart from the ambience, there isn’t much to explore.
Worth visiting if you’re in Nikko if you’re into quiet strolls and nature.
Free to enter. Best to come by car since it is a long walk from the main road. Interesting and beautiful yet a little creepy when it’s dark. Interesting and a little scary history around it when people say they move around at night which is why they don’t know the exact number.
It's a long walk to get there and the Buddha statues with the hats and aprons are not really worth it (especially if you visited Kyoto before where you can see similar statues in many places). We went there because we didn't have enough time to go to the lake and the falls and we finished with the Nikko temples and shrines. The walk itself is nice and there's a beautiful river view at the abyss which is very nice so it's recommended for nature lovers.
