Document 72 Hours

3,333 Steps: Beyond Japan's Longest Stone Staircase

In the quiet mountains of Kumamoto lies a stone staircase that is 2.1 kilometers long, with 3,333 steps to the summit, making it the longest in Japan. It takes an average adult about an hour and a half to climb. People gather here for various reasons, choosing to challenge themselves with this arduous task. A hairdresser who was entrusted with managing the shop. A group of university students who took different paths after graduation. A regular man who makes multiple trips up and down the stairs in a single day... People pushing their limits with grim expressions. Three days of facing the 3,333-step stone staircase.