Kegon Waterfall

Of the 48 waterfalls scattered around Nikko, Kegon Falls is the most famous. It is 97 meters high, 7 meters wide, and 4.5 meters deep, with the water from Lake Chuzenji falling all at once from its large cliffs.

This waterfall, which allows visitors to enjoy the grandeur of nature and its beautiful shape at the same time, is one of the three most famous waterfalls in Japan.

The elevator (fee required) takes about 1 minute and drops 100 meters down to the viewing platform where the waterfall basin can be seen up close and personal.

The sight of the water splashing and roaring as it cascades down is a sight to behold. The sight is even more impressive at the end of the rainy season and after typhoons, when the volume of water in Lake Chuzenji increases.

Kegon-no-taki Falls offers a different view in each season: in May, the water is covered with fresh greenery, and in June, many Japanese swallows fly over the area around the falls.

From January to February, the entire waterfall is covered in blue ice as the Twelve Waterfalls, which are small, narrow waterfalls, freeze over. Visitors can enjoy the scenery of each of the four seasons.

Kegon Falls is famous as one of the three most famous waterfalls in Japan, but there are many other beautiful waterfalls in Nikko, such as Kirifuri Falls, Uramidaki Falls, Yudaki Falls, and Ryuzutaki Falls. After visiting Kegon Falls, it is recommended to take a short trip to these waterfalls and enjoy a tour of waterfalls in Nikko City.

Kegon Falls (or Kegon-no-taki, Kegon Falls) is located in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. According to legend, it was named after a Buddhist scripture called Kegon-kyo, and its discoverer is said to be Shodo Shonin.

Other waterfalls in the Kegon Valley area include Agon Falls, Hodo Falls, Hannya Falls, and Nirvana Falls, which are also believed to have been named according to the teachings of the Five Odd Moments.

Kegon Falls are located on the Otani River, the only outlet from Lake Chuzenji, which was dammed by the eruption of Mt. The 97-meter waterfall is one of the three most famous waterfalls in Japan, and is a powerful sight as the water cascades down at a single stroke.

Together with Kirifuri Falls and Uramitaki Falls, it is also known as one of the three best waterfalls in Nikko, and together with Yudaki Falls and Ryuzu Falls, the three best waterfalls in Oku-Nikko, allowing visitors to enjoy five famous waterfalls in both Nikko and Oku-Nikko.

The water volume of Kegon Falls is said to average about 3 tons per second, but sometimes the maximum is 55 tons and the minimum is less than 0.3 tons. The amount of water in the Ojiri River can be controlled, and there is a hydroelectric power plant downstream to regulate the demand for electricity and for disaster prevention.

Subterranean water leaking from Lake Chuzenji appears from the middle part of the river, and countless waterfalls cascade down like a curtain, never drying up all year round. Combined with Kegon Falls, they form a beautiful landscape.

The Kegon Valley extends downstream from Kegon Falls, and has moved to its present location while eroding the eruptions of Nantai-san.

According to an old theory, Kegon Falls existed about 800 meters downstream. As a result, it is geologically very vulnerable. In 1935, a bedrock fell and hit Gorohira Tea House, which was located near the waterfall basin, killing four people. Also, in 1986, part of the mouth of the falls collapsed, and reinforcement work was undertaken for the safety of tourists.

There is a fee-based Kegon Falls elevator on the north bank of the Ootagawa River near Kegon Falls, and visitors can get a close-up view of the waterfall basin by going down using the elevator. There is also a viewing platform from the north bank of the valley where the elevator parking is located, where you can look down on the waterfall.

From Akechidaira, visitors can take the Akechidaira Ropeway to get a panoramic view of Kegon Falls along with Lake Chuzenji and Nantai-san (Mt. Nantai).

Kegon Falls was designated as a national scenic beauty in 1931 (“Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji Lakeside”) and was selected as one of the 100 best geological features in Japan in 2007 (“Kegon Falls”).