Shojigataki Falls

A waterfall in the Ishutoro Valley, fed by Jizogatake, one of the three peaks of the Hoo Sanzan mountains in Minami Alps National Park. It got its name from ascetic practitioners who stood under the falls to purify themselves. Cascading down in several tiers from an elevation of Approx. 4,593 ft, it has a drop of 121 m, the largest in eastern Japan. Its beautiful spray spreads like mist, and it has been selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls.

It takes Approx. 40 minutes on the walking trail from the parking lot to the observation deck where the falls can be seen. This scenic viewpoint offers sweeping views of Shojigataki Falls and Kudan Falls directly below it, and the autumn foliage season is especially spectacular. Follow the trail starting at the suspension bridge and you will come across a series of waterfalls called First Falls, Second Falls, and Third Falls, along with unusual rock formations such as Meoto-iwa Rocks and Onigiri Rock. The scenery changes with the seasons, from fresh greenery to autumn leaves. If you take a short detour along the way, there is also a spot where you can see the Fossa Magna up close, the great rift that divides the Japanese archipelago into northeastern and southwestern Japan.

The falls cannot be accessed from late November to late April, when the walking trail is closed for winter.