Kankakei Gorge Autumn Leaves 2026 Confirmed

寒霞渓の紅葉 — Shodoshima, Kagawa (Shikoku)

Kankakei on the island of Shodoshima is counted among Japan's three most beautiful gorges, and its ropeway delivers the country's most aerial foliage view: five minutes gliding between volcanic rock spires with the maple canopy below and the Seto Inland Sea glittering beyond. Color runs from early to late November, sweeping downhill through the gorge. During foliage season (October 21 to November 30) the ropeway operates 8:00am-5:00pm; a round trip costs 2,160-2,340 yen.

Background

The gorge's pinnacles and arches were carved by erosion out of volcanic rock formed roughly 13 million years ago. Long celebrated in classical travel accounts, Kankakei was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1923, and the ropeway began carrying visitors up the gorge in 1963.

Getting there

Getting here is a journey: ferry from Takamatsu to Shodoshima's Tonosho Port (about 60 minutes, or 35 by high-speed boat), then an island bus toward Kountei, the lower ropeway station. Ferries also run from Okayama, Himeji, and Kobe. A rental car at the port simplifies the island legs considerably.

Tips

• Ride the ropeway up and hike one of the two old pilgrim trails down (about an hour) — you get the aerial view and the under-canopy view in one ticket by buying one-way.
• Budget 2,160-2,340 yen for the round trip and check ferry return times before you commit; the last boats to Takamatsu leave earlier than you'd expect.
• Morning rides face the sun across the Inland Sea — for clearer photos of the rock spires, aim for early afternoon light.
• Make a day of the island: the Kankakei summit road connects toward Olive Park and the soy-sauce warehouse district of Hishio-no-sato.