Umenoki Suspension Bridge and Falls

The mountains of Gokanosho have long remained one of Kumamoto Prefecture's most inaccessible areas. They sheltered remnants of the Heike Clan as they fled from the victorious Genji Clan after the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185 and the high peaks and winding roads still manage to keep out most of the outside world. For those who venture here, however, a land of waterfalls, suspension bridges and hidden villages awaits. In autumn, a one-way system is instituted on the narrow mountain roads to accommodate the large amounts of leaf peepers who come to view the area's stunning fall foliage.