The scariest staircase in the world is in Japan

Carved in the embankment of a river 10 meters high in the Kanayamacho district of Gero City, the «scariest staircase» in Japan (and some consider it the world) has been receiving a lot of attention on social media, after an amateur photographer shared photos of it.

It is 10 meters high and only a rusty handrail for support (Video capture).

From certain angles, the staircase seems almost verticalwith steps so narrow that they can barely be walked on, and just a rusty handrail for support, informa Odditycentral.

According to recent news, the staircase dates back to the early 1960s, when local authorities decided to build a concrete embankment to protect the district from flooding. The ladder was added after residents complained about not being able to reach the bank of the Maze River to fish.

A tilt against logic

The inclination of the staircase is mainly due to the tread-riser ratio of 1 a 1compared to the standard of 2 to 1. Although authorities have not given an official explanation for this relationship, it is believed that the design sought to keep costs as low as possible, indicates Odditycentral.

Photos and videos of the scariest staircase have been circulating online for a couple of weeks, but the Gero tourism association has been reluctant to promote it as a tourist attraction due to the risk of injury, dice Odditycentral.

«We cannot say that the staircase is safe, so we ask people to take responsibility for any possible injuries,» a spokesperson told the Mainichi Shimbun.

The staircase appears almost vertical, with steps so narrow that they can barely be walked on (Video capture).

Apparently, climbing the stairs is quite difficult due to their unusual inclination, but the real danger lies in negotiate the narrow steps when going down. The dizzying incline, coupled with the narrow, moss-covered steps, makes the experience very dangerous.