Modern Suiseki

About Kamui Cotan

Kamui Cotan ( 神居古潭 ) is district name in Asahikawa-shi, a city in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

Kamui Cotan is scenic spot viewing a rapid stream of Ishikari river.

The view of a narrow gorge with a stream running through it is beautiful. It is considered to be 70 meters (about 230 feet) deep at its deepest point.

In the district, ancient pit dwelling ruins and stone circle are found and therefore, the district had some meanings for ancient people.

The meaning of Kamui Cotan is the place on which god thought to reside in Ainu language. As its name suggests, it has been an important point of water transport by Ainu, who are an East Asian ethnic group indigenous to Japan (Hokkaido and formerly North-Eastern Honshu) and Russia.

Because of a rapid stream of Ishikari river, some people became its victims. There is a tectonic line running through (north-south) in Hokkaido and in Kamui Cotan, it is called Kamui Cotan tectonic line (metamorphic belt) and it present a remarkable appearance there from geological point of view.

There are many small pits(churn holes) on the surface of rocks in the river side and it is a natural monument designated by Asahikawa city. From Kamui Cotan district, several remarkable metamorphic rocks are found it they are called Kamui Cotan Seven Stones to express peculiarity.

The following photos are Ishikari river viewing from Kamui Cotan.