Nikobuchi
にこ淵
A plunge pool deep in Kochi's mountains, filled with the water known as "Niyodo Blue". With the light and seasons, they say you never see the same blue twice.
The heart of "Niyodo Blue"
Nikobuchi is a plunge pool at the foot of a waterfall in the hills of Ino Town, Kochi Prefecture. It lies on the Edagawa River, a tributary of the Niyodo River, which flows through Shikoku. A fuchi is a place where a river's water gathers in a deep pool.
The Niyodo River has been named many times as having "the best water quality" in water quality surveys by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Its clear blue water came to be called "Niyodo Blue" thanks to the work of a Kochi nature photographer. Nikobuchi is the best-known spot for it, and after spreading on social media it became one of Shikoku's leading sights.
A sacred place where a great serpent lives
Legend says a great serpent, the embodiment of a water god, lives in Nikobuchi, and it has long been treated as a sacred place that local people stayed away from. It is also the setting of a legend about a beautiful young woman and the serpent.
For this reason, going into the water, eating and drinking, dropping litter and smoking are all forbidden. It is a place to enjoy the scenery, but the etiquette is to look quietly.
When the blue looks its best
The colour of the water changes with the time of day when sunlight reaches it and with the angle of the light through the seasons. When light filters in between the trees, you can see a mysterious blue.
In February 2025 a new, gently sloping path was opened that leads down from the car park to the pool. The first half is a ramp and the second half is steps with low risers. There is a viewing platform part-way down, so even if going all the way down to the pool is hard for you, you can still see Nikobuchi from close by.
Getting there
Driving is the realistic option. It takes about 70 minutes from central Kochi, or about 60 minutes from the Ino interchange on the Kochi Expressway. For your car's navigation, it is easiest to set the destination as the Green Park Hodono campsite, about 5km (about 10 minutes) beyond Nikobuchi; the Nikobuchi car park and sign come before it.
By bus, take a Kenko Hokubu Kotsu bus from JR Ino Station for about 50 minutes, get off at Hodono-iriguchi or Doi, then walk about 20 to 30 minutes. Buses are infrequent, so check the times in advance.
Tips
- The road from the national highway to Nikobuchi is a narrow forest road. On busy days such as long weekends, traffic jams can make the trip take more than two hours, so it is best to visit early in the morning or in the late afternoon.
- The rocks are very slippery, so wear shoes with a good grip.
- To help protect the natural environment, visitors are asked to put a contribution of 100 yen per person in the box at the entrance.
- On certain days, such as long weekends, visitors are asked not to come in by bus (of any size). Keep this in mind if you are going as a group.
Sources
Updated 29 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
