Niyodogawa in the Rain

Shibuya246 · 30 September 2010 · 19 photos

The famous Niyodo blue, even on a grey day.

On my Shikoku trip I drove from Matsuyama to Kochi along Route 33, following the Niyodogawa river through the mountains. It rained the whole way, so the clouds hung low over the valleys and every hillside was soaked green.

Even in the rain the river was beautiful. The Niyodo is famous for its clear blue-green water, which locals call "Niyodo blue".

A wet road disappearing into fog between trees — Route 33 in the rain, with the mist sitting low on the road.

A road tunnel entrance cut into a green hillside — One of many tunnels along the way.

A red arch bridge across a green valley behind tiled roofs — A red bridge across the valley.

A rainy main street in a small mountain town — Small towns line the road between the mountains.

A large old wooden building beside the road with misty hills behind — Old wooden buildings and low cloud on the hills.

Terraced green fields on a steep slope — Fields terraced into the steep slopes.

An old house beside the road with a blue sign to Matsuyama — Still 51 km back to Matsuyama.

A dam across the river with houses on the hillside above — The dam, right in the middle of town.

A misty lake between steep wooded hills — The lake behind the dam, with the cloud coming down.

A red steel truss bridge in the rain — Another bright red bridge.

A rocky river seen through a bridge railing — The river running fast over the rocks.

Houses and banners on a hillside above the river — Houses stacked up the hillside above the river.

A school building below misty mountains — Mountains on every side.

A large white rock in clear green river water — You can see right to the bottom of the river.

A dark wooden restaurant building beside the road — Time for a late lunch at a roadside restaurant.

Looking out from a restaurant window at the rain and trees — A good view of the rain from inside.

A steak set meal with rice, miso soup and pickles — The steak lunch, at about 4pm.

A small bamboo water spout dripping onto a stone basin among ferns — A quiet corner outside the restaurant.

From here the road kept winding on to Kochi, and on to Katsurahama, where I arrived just as it was getting dark.

I took these photos in September 2010 and only got round to posting them in 2026. A short summary of the whole drive is in my Shikoku Trip post.

Visiting today · Kochi, Shikoku

Visiting Niyodo River (Niyodogawa), Kochi today

Checked October 2026 · next check January 2027

Added by Shibuya246, separate from the original post above. Facts are checked every quarter against the sources below. Check opening times and prices before you go.

What it is: A 124 km river through the middle of Kochi Prefecture, famous for the clear blue-green water known as "Niyodo blue". Route 33 follows it through the mountains between Matsuyama and Kochi.
Best spots: Nakatsu Gorge and Yasui Gorge each have walking paths of about 1.5 hours. Nikobuchi is a deep blue pool below a waterfall, best around midday.
Getting there: JR to Sakawa (about 50 minutes from Kochi), then a 40 to 60 minute taxi to the gorges. For Nikobuchi, JR to Ino (20 minutes), then a 50-minute bus. Buses are infrequent, so a car or booked taxi is easiest.
Best time: Autumn and winter for the clearest water; November for autumn leaves at Yasui Gorge.
Tip: The road into Yasui Gorge is narrow, and the gorges get busy in Golden Week, Obon and November weekends. Paths are slippery, so wear good shoes, and take your rubbish home.

Best time

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Clearest water in autumn and winter; autumn leaves in November

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Sources: Niyodo River – JNTO (japan.travel) · Yasui Gorge – NIYODO BLUE (official) · Niyodo River (Good Luck Trip, JTB)

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