Carved into a 10-meter-high river embankment in the Kanayamacho district of Gero Town, Japan’s ‘most terrifying staircase’ has been getting a lot of attention on social media, after photos of it were shared by an amateur photographer. From certain angles, the staircase looks almost vertical, with steps so narrow that you can barely step on them, and only a rusty handrail for support.
According to recent news reports, the staircase dates back to the early 1960s, when local authorities decided to build a concrete embankment to protect the district against floods. The staircase was added after locals complained that there was no way for them to reach the riverbank to fish in the Maze River.
The steepness of the staircase is due primarily to the tread-to-riser ratio of 1 to 1, compared to the standard 2 to 1. Although an official reason for this ratio hasn’t been given by authorities, it is believed that the design was meant to keep costs as low as possible. Japanese efficiency, what can you do!
Photos and videos of Japan’s Most Terrifying Staircase have been doing the rounds online for a couple of weeks, but Gero’s tourism association has been reluctant to promote it as a sightseeing attraction due to the risk of injury.
“We can’t say it (the stairs) is safe, so we ask people to take responsibility for any possible injuries,” a spokesperson told the Mainichi Shimbun.
Apparently, walking up the stairs is difficult enough, due to the unusual steepness of the staircase, but the true danger lies in navigating the narrow steps while descending. The vertigo-inducing steepness, coupled with the narrow, moss-covered steps, makes the experience very dangerous.
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