Oirase River

The Oirase River (奥入瀬川, Oirase-gawa) is a river located in eastern Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan.

Nativename奥入瀬川 (Japanese)

SourceLake Towada

locationAomori & Akita Prefectures, Japan

coordinates40°28′N 140°52′E

Quick facts Native name, Physical characteristics ...

Oirase River
Oirase River gorge
Location within Japan
Native name	奥入瀬川 (Japanese)
Physical characteristics
Source	Lake Towada
• location	Aomori & Akita Prefectures, Japan
• coordinates	40°28′N 140°52′E
• elevation	401 m (1,316 ft)
Mouth	Hachinohe
• location	Pacific Ocean
• coordinates	40°36′28″N 141°27′40″E
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	67 km (42 mi)
Basin size	820 km2 (320 sq mi)

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The Oirase River is the only river that drains Lake Towada, a large caldera lake that lies on the border of Aomori and Akita Prefectures. The river flows in a generally eastern direction, through the municipalities of Towada, Rokunohe, Oirase, and Hachinohe before exiting into the Pacific Ocean. The upper reaches of the river form a scenic gorge with numerous rapids and waterfalls, and is one of the major tourist attractions of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. The lower reaches of the river are used extensively for irrigation.

In 1996 the sound of flowing water at the Oirase River was selected by the Ministry of the Environment as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan.^[1]