Sumata Gorge

The Sumata is a tributary of the Oi in the mountains of northern Shizuoka, and a series of small hydroelectric dams has turned parts of it into narrow reservoirs whose water carries rock flour in suspension and reads as a strong milky turquoise. The Yume no Tsuribashi, the dream suspension bridge, crosses one of them - ninety metres long, eight metres of plank at a time, hung about eight metres above the water, and rated for ten people, which is enforced because it swings. There is a queue on weekends and the crossing is one-way; the loop back involves a long flight of steps and about a ninety-minute walk in total. The reservoir colour is at its strongest in spring and early summer. Getting here is half the day: the road is narrow and winding, and the Oigawa Railway that serves the valley is itself a heritage line with steam services.

What you actually see

• The plank bridge - ninety metres of narrow decking, ten people at a time.
• Turquoise reservoir water - rock flour in suspension colouring the dammed river.
• A ninety-minute loop - one-way crossing then a long stair climb back.
• The Oigawa Railway - a heritage line with steam services up the valley.

When to go

Spring and early summer for the strongest colour; late November for maples. A day.

Honest expectations

Weekend queues for the bridge can run to hours. The loop involves several hundred steps and is not for everyone. The approach road is narrow with limited parking, charged. The bridge closes in high wind and for maintenance.

Nearby

Senzu and the Oigawa Railway are downstream; Sumatakyo Onsen is at the trailhead.