Kegon Falls
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Lake Chuzenji’s only outlet is the Daiya River which begins at the eastern end of the lake. Shortly after the start of the river it drops down a cliff of the Akechidaira Plateau and forms the gorgeous Kegon Falls as the river makes its way towards the valley below. Kegon Falls is considered one of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. With the waterfall being only 5 minutes from our ryokan, we made sure to stop by.
In the most famous of Nikko’s waterfalls, Kegon Falls, water from Lake Chuzenji descends 97 meters or about 318 feet to form the main portion of the falls. Flanking the main waterfall are many smaller waterfalls from where water seeps through holes within the cliff face. It’s quite a sight to behold, and fortunately there are many ways to see it.
At the top of the visitor’s center for the falls there are a few places to get something to eat and some souvenirs. There is also a waterfall viewpoint that can be accessed free of charge next to the building. However the best view of the waterfall is reached with a small fee.
When we arrived at the falls there was also a large group of middle school children on a field trip. We paid the entrance fee to take the elevator down, which ended up being filled with students. The kids were all very polite and allowed us to pass by as their numerous groups were ushered down the two elevators. We walked down a long hall carved into the rock and out onto a lower viewing deck, which provides a spectacular close-up view from the bottom of the waterfall.
The rush of the waters is loud, and many other smaller streams of water spill down the sides of the cliffs around the waterfall to join the water in the basin below. It’s a breathtaking sight, and there was even a rainbow in the mist of the waterfall.
The nearby Akechidaira Ropeway also has an amazing view of the waterfall. Although a bit far away, the falls are visible with Lake Chuzenji and the mountains behind it.
It’s no wonder why this is one of the finest waterfalls in the country. The only thing that could have made it better would be if we had visited a few weeks earlier when the leaves on the Akechidaira Plateau were changing.
Google Maps Link: Kegon Falls
