Yoshikawa-mata
Deeply cut Japanese sawa tributary in the Echigo range. Heather-banked granite slabs and crystalline pools.
Access is restricted — read carefully.
Limited to a daily quota by the local sawanobori cooperative. Register at the Yuzawa visitor centre 48h ahead. Closed early Apr–late May (snowmelt). No commercial guiding without permit.
Description & Access
Yoshikawa-mata is a textbook Echigo sawa: tight upper section, then opens into wide slab slides before the rappel staircase. Cold water year-round — wetsuit mandatory.
Approach
1H 30MFrom the Yuzawa side ridge trail head, contour 90 minutes east through the beech forest to the put-in. The last 15 minutes is a steep heather descent.
Descent
4HEight rappels in the middle third, separated by long swims and one obligatory 4m slide. R5 (25m) is double-stage — knot at the rebelay and break at the midway ledge.
Return
55MFrom the exit pool, climb skier's-left up the moraine to rejoin the approach ridge trail. 55 minutes back to the road.