Ryuzukyo Valley 龍頭峡
Tsutsuga Village 山県郡筒賀村
		Ryuzukyo Valley

Ryuzukyo Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in Hiroshima Prefecture, is situated in Tsutsuga Village which is 30 km northwest of Hiroshima City. An area of the valley is designated as a Natural Environment Preservation Area by the prefecture. According to statistics issued by the village, 90 percent of the village's total area is covered by forest, half of which is owned by the village. Therefore, forestry has been their main industry, but it is said to be difficult these days to find successors to work in it. The villagers are now promoting tourism, making the best use of Ryuzukyo which is a godsend. Many recreational facilities such as a forest museum, a woodworking and ceramic art house, a rest house, a lodging place and camping sites were built at the entrance of the valley to induce many more people to come, especially from urban areas. They have also developed various kinds of wooden products as well as wasabi-zuke (horseradish preserved in sake), tochi senbei (rice crackers), and so forth.

A good hiking course is stretched into a naturally grown 200-300-year-old forest of cedar, fir and hemlock spruce trees, which is called Hikiakeno-mori, passing by a couple of beautiful waterfalls including the 40-meter-high two-stepped Nidantaki falls.

Every year on the last Sunday in July, Ryuzukyo Festival is held there. Many kinds of events are planned such as yamame fish (a kind of trout)-catching, treasure hunting, kagura (Shinto music and dancing) performance, and a local specialties'market and so on.

◆Getting there

Go by car. Travel on the Chugoku Expressway, and get off at the Togouchi exit. Then take Route 186. Follow the signboard that reads "龍頭峡” which means Ryuzukyo Valley.

◆Suggested schedule

Hiroshima(8:10)===(Chugoku express way)===Togouchi exit===

===(Rte.186)===Ryuzukyo(10:00)---Hikiake-no-mori(11:30-13:00)---

---Ruzukyo(14:30-15:30)===(Rte.186)===Togouchi===(Rte.191)===

===kake===Kabe===(Rte.54)===Hiroshima(17:00)