If you find yourself walking the path along Rairaikyo Gorge (as well you should, it’s breathtaking) during a trip to the quiet hot-springs resort town of Akiu near Sendai, you might spot an unusually romantic depression in the stone.
This is the Nozokibashi Heart, a local landmark deemed to be a lovers’ sanctuary, as attested by the signs surrounding the area. People stopping on the bridge to gaze down on the unique rock formation is a common sight, and the Heart is even highlighted in travel guides put out by Sendai City.
On the one hand, it’s just a hollow in the rock, not nearly as impressive as the spectacular ravine all around it. On the other, it’s hard not to feel romantic if you visit it with your sweetheart.