Gandate Cliff
Gandate Cliff is a rock formation of serrated stone in the Hida-Osaka countryside of Gero. The cliff was formed 54,000 years ago by an eruption of Mt. Ontake. Lava from the volcano, located 17 kilometers to the southeast, flowed to the area, eventually cooling and hardening into the columnar joints that are still visible. Gandate measures 72 meters high and 120 meters wide.
A nearby observation deck offers a view of the formation and the surrounding vegetation. Trees grow over much of the outcrop, effectively framing the sheer cliff face. The view from the observation deck is particularly striking in autumn when the leaves of the surrounding trees turn shades of red and orange. In the spring, blooms of rose-gold pussy willow and Japanese witch hazel color the area.