Geibikei Gorge — Attraction in Ichinoseki

We took a boat tour on November 25, 2024, arriving around 1:40 PM to board the 2 PM trip. The round-trip cost was 1,800 JPY per person and lasted about 80 minutes.

We were hoping to be seated on an uncovered boat, as we assumed the plastic-covered boats were reserved for rainy or snowy conditions. However, we ended up on a plastic-covered boat, which made the experience less enjoyable. Interestingly, the 1 PM boat was uncovered, so the seating arrangements seem unclear to us.

One of the highlights was feeding the ducks that followed the boat. Duck food is available for purchase onboard, and feeding them was a relaxing and fun thing. The water was incredibly clear, allowing us to see the rocks at the bottom, even though it wasn’t very deep.

The head boatman explained Geibikei in Japanese, which we couldn’t understand, so we spent the time enjoying the ducks instead. About 20 minutes into the ride, there’s a short stop for a walk to see the waterfalls and enjoy the scenic beauty of Geibikei. On the way back, the boatman sang a traditional Japanese song, adding a cultural touch to the trip.

The weather was perfect, with clear skies and pleasant temperatures. It was an enjoyable experience overall, but I would rate it 5 stars if we had been seated on an...

Beautiful serene place where one can be with nature. Enjoy the ride as the boatman/woman explains about the sites in Japanese. You can even buy some fish/duck feed at JPY50 per packet to feed the ducks and fishes along the way. If you are feeling lucky, at the midpoint, there is a short landing where you can then choose to improve your luck by throwing "Lucky Balls" (pebbles) carved with various characters representing luck, love, career, etc., into a hole in the rock face that is across the stream. On the return ride, the nice boatman/woman will even sing a traditional song in Japanese that is about the beauty of the area. The song sets the mood for a really beautiful ending.

Visotors should not be making any noises or grumbling if unable to understand Japanese. A hand out is available from the ticketing counter in English or Chinese that explains what the boatman/woman is saying. Tip for enjoying the boat ride: Avoid boarding if you see or hear young Caucasians, Americans or China (not Taiwan or HK) families in the queue. They have a tendency to do their own talking (pretty loudly too) and spoil the serenity of the ride. There is a ride every 30mins, unless you are in a rush, why not wait for the next one to truly enjoy the peaceful serenity...

The path to Gebikei Gorge starts with a bus ride from Hiraizumi Station. Upon reaching the area water roaring down with a green leafy background can be seen on your left. Along the path are small souvenir and food shops. At the end of the short road you get your ticket (JPY 1,600) and prepare to board a raft with a boatman navigating it with a long pole. Each raft can seat a fixed number of passengers and no overloading. Passengers remove their shoes and are seated on a mat facing outward for a good view of the beautiful surroundings of nature - the colors of the foliage, the ripple sound of the river, the paddling of the ducks and especially the singing voice of the boatman... in reverence and gratitude for the wonders of creation. The trip is like an inner soul-searching as one...