The mountainous nature of the territory of Japan gives rise to an incredible number of waterfalls. Almost every river or rivulet has its own ledge, from where the stream breaks down with an irresistible force. In total, the scrupulous Japanese counted 2488 "water dragons", whose height exceeds 5 meters.
If you look closely at the Japanese character for waterfall, you can see its two components: water and dragon. This attitude is associated with the endowment of these places with a sacred status: the higher the ledge, the more significant the deity dwells here.
The Japanese, as true pragmatists, tried to streamline the water giants in the ratings. As a result, you can select several lists, where the best are collected.
The highest
The obvious criterion by which you can arrange waterfalls is height. Hannoki-no-taki is considered the undisputed leader here. Its stream breaks off one of the ledges of the Midagahara high plateau in Toyama Prefecture. The height of the giant is 497 meters, which is a record for Asia. However, Hannoki-no-taki can still be called a leader, adjusted for its seasonality: the river bed is filled only 4 months a year, when snow is melting on the plateau.
During the period when the "water dragon" is slumbering, the palm goes to his 370-meter brother, Shoyo-daki. They call him brother because the waterfalls unite into one river. During the snow melt, they form a giant letter V. In the rest of the seasons, Shoyo-daki works for two.
In third place on the Japanese list is the landmark of Hokkaido Island, the 270-meter Hagoromo-no-taki waterfall. It consists of 7 ledges, according to local residents, resembling the dance of the "star maiden" in the sun.
The most beautiful
The poetic Japanese soul could not pass by such an important quality as beauty. There is a list of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan.
The first in this ranking is Nachi-no-taki in the Kumano Mountains. The water stream falls from a height of 133 meters, surrounded by evergreen coniferous forests. The mysterious beauty gave its surroundings a sacred status among the Japanese Zionists. In the rumbling noise of the water, especially subtle natures hear sacred notes.
Another combination of sacred and aesthetic beauty is located in Nikko National Park. Lake Chuzenji provides constant replenishment of the water flow. In addition to the main column of water, 12 smaller jets create a beautiful background. Next to this "water dragon" is the famous Ieyasu Tokugawa burial complex.
Fukuroda closes the top three of the falling handsome men. The water spreads along the slope in a 73-meter stream, forming 4 cascades. A remarkable picture can be observed in winter, when water freezes on the ledges with fancy laces.
The strangest
The strangest waterfalls can be singled out in a separate list. In Japan, and such a place was found - high volcanic activity has formed unusual forms and natural formations.
The Shiretoko Peninsula, protruding into the Sea of Okhotsk, is rich in such wonders. There are waterfalls with incomprehensible water sources. There are no lakes, rivers and streams nearby, while water flows out of the mountain range or even gushes out in a stream.
The Furepe-no-take waterfall, located on a mountain protruding into the sea, has such an unusual character. Water pressure beats straight from the ground, scattering not several streams. Kamuivakka-no-taki is also located here. The beginning of the water giant is given by underground hot springs. Water flows into the ocean in several cascades. Small reservoirs with different water temperatures are formed on each ledge. Tourists willingly take baths in them.
The underground waterfall of the Otaki Seonyudo karst labyrinth can also be classified as strange. Water falls into one of the caves from a height of 30 meters.
The listed natural "water dragons" include many artificial formations with which the Japanese love to decorate all kinds of gardens and shopping centers. Although this will be a completely different rating.
The nature and cultural-historical wealth of Japan is very multifaceted, everyone here will find something interesting for themselves. The richest culture of the country, carefully guarded and sacredly revered traditions are surprisingly combined with the extraordinary pace of development of high technologies, huge skyscrapers coexist with graceful pagodas, and the noise of cars with the murmur of small waterfalls in quiet gardens.
The beauty of Japan is hard to imagine without its waterfalls. After all, the streams of falling water sparkling with glare are truly beautiful. If you carefully consider the hieroglyph of the word "waterfall", then it is visually divided into two components, meaning the concepts of "water" and "dragon". This probably has a profound meaning. The Japanese, who had never seen this outlandish beast alive, were reminiscent of the water currents swirling and shaking the surroundings with their menacing roar, rushing down to the ground from a height. At the same time, the inhabitants of the Japanese islands are quite familiar with this extraordinary natural phenomenon. The reservoirs of the Land of the Rising Sun are famous for their "temper", for the most part they flow not over a flat surface, but over mountainous terrain. We can say that a calm river for Japan is an exception to the rule. According to specially carried out calculations, the territory of Japan contains almost two and a half thousand waterfalls, while their height is five or more meters! Almost every river can boast of its own waterfall, in extreme cases - rifts. To this we must add that, according to an old religious tradition, the Japanese consider waterfalls to be a habitat for spirits. The higher and more formidable the waterfall, the more powerful and venerable the deity who chose this place for his dwelling. Hence the deepest respect people have for such natural phenomena. More than once, they tried to build a single value vertical on which one could place - above or below - the country's most famous waterfalls. The problem is, with what criteria to approach the choice of "very-very".
Most often, waterfalls are compared by the height of the fall of the jet. But even here there are doubts. As you know, some of them are represented by a single stream falling into the abyss; others have a cascading nature, where the water, like a naughty child, jumps from ledge to ledge, announcing the surroundings with a cheerful murmur; the third, disintegrating not small jets, as they cover the steep slope of the mountain with a white cloak ... It is rather difficult to compare such waterfalls, all the more to build them in a hierarchy.
If we apply the generally accepted criterion - in height, then the leader among Japanese waterfalls is Hannoki but still located on one of the small streams running down the high plateau Midagahara in Toyama Prefecture. Its height is 497 m. It is considered the highest not only in Japan, but throughout Asia, although it occupies only 88th place in the global ranking. However, even in Japan itself, Hannoki's superiority is still being questioned. The fact is that the waterfall functions only 4 months a year - from April to July, when the snow melting on Midagahara replenishes the riverbed with water. The rest of the time, the "dragon" Hannoki prefers to rest in silence, hiding from prying eyes. And then the palm tree among Japanese waterfalls is taken over by the "twin" of Hannoki-no-taki - the waterfall Shomyo-daki... These two waterfalls are called "twins" because they, plunging down in different ways, bring their waters into one river, and their streams against the background of the mountain resemble a giant Latin letter V. But Shomyo-daki, unlike his lazy "brother", works without rest all year round. Its height is 370 m. The water falling from the top produces a sound similar to the muttering of a monk offering prayer to Buddha. Hence the name - Shomyo (ascension of prayer).
The third on this list is Hagoromo but still, considered one of the attractions of the island of Hokkaido. The height of this waterfall is 270 m. Flowing down with seven ledges, the water stream resembles (at least, locals say so) a dancing "star maiden", whose snow-white outfit sparkles in the sun with water jets. The "Star Maiden", who took a fancy to these places in ancient times, is considered the patroness of rice growing, since she generously supplies the peasant fields with life-giving moisture.
This could complete the story about the "most-most" among the waterfalls. But the Japanese have other criteria for superiority. So, there is a list of "the three most beautiful waterfalls in the country."
The first of the most beautiful waterfalls Nati-but-taki located in the Kumano Mountains, an area sacred to Japanese Shintoists. A 133-meter column of water that falls from the mountain against the backdrop of evergreen needles of the forests covering the slope serves as a magnificent backdrop for religious ceremonies held at the local temple. The sacred notes in the round-the-clock roar of the waterfall are heard quite clearly.
The second on this list is a waterfall Kegon but still(or simply Kegon) - also located in a sacred place for the Japanese - in Nikko National Park, where a powerful burial complex was built in memory of Ieyasu Tokugawa, the military ruler of Japan, who made a lot of efforts to unite the country. From Lake Chuzenji, located next to the memorial, the Dayagawa River flows out. Once the lava of the awakened volcano blocked the flow of the river, directing it along a new channel. Now, barely leaving the limits of the lake, the river rushes down a 97-meter stream. The beauty of the waterfall is supported and set off by another 12 smaller jets falling on the sides of the main stream. However, the beauty and sacred nature of this phenomenon formed a not entirely pleasant fame for Kegon. The falls became infamous as the site of frequent suicide among young Japanese people beginning in May 1903, when 18-year-old philosophy student Misao Fujimura jumped from it. Before committing suicide, Fujimura left a poetic suicide note on a tree trunk, which was later replicated by the media.
The height of another representative of the three most beautiful waterfalls is Fukuroda-but still- reaches 120 m, and the width of its streams spreading along the slope is 73 m. Unlike the Nati and Kegon waterfalls, it is cascading (4 steps). In winter, the streams of water freeze, forming whimsical white laces on the chest of the mountain.
On the Shiretoko Peninsula, which overlooks the Sea of Okhotsk, there are waterfalls replenished with water from nowhere. There are no lakes, rivers, or even streams nearby, and jets are gushing from the mountain slopes, as if from a water tap, which the negligent hostess forgot to close. Such is, for example, a waterfall Furepe-no-take... Its source is located right on the cliff of a mountain protruding into the sea. A jet, beating from the ground, scattering into several streams, forms a beautiful waterfall, which is sometimes called "Maiden's Tears".
No less amazing is the waterfall located on the same peninsula Kamuivakka-but-still... It is formed by underground mineral springs that splash hot sulphurous water onto the surface. It flows into the ocean in a cascade, forming small reservoirs at each stage. The lower the step, the cooler the water. Local residents and visitors willingly take baths in these reservoirs. Healing water is able to quickly heal scratches and bruises received on the way to the waterfall.
Among the "strange" waterfalls, mention should be made of the 30-meter jet pouring inside one of the caves of the karst labyrinth of Otaki Seonyudo in Gifu Prefecture. This is the largest underground waterfall in Japan - as high as a 10-storey building.
I would also like to pay attention to Shirato. As a rule, the fact of visiting this waterfall causes ordinary feelings among tourists - well, a waterfall is like a waterfall, what is special about it. But at the first glance at Shiraito it becomes clear that this waterfall is unusual.
Shiraito surprises everyone with his non-standard approach to the waterfall business. Its height is only 3 meters, and its width is 70! Shiraito translated from Japanese means “white threads”. Many who have visited this natural wonder speak of it as the most unusual waterfall they have ever seen. What's strange about it is that it is wide and flat. Its waters do not rush down the cliff, but come out of the mountain crevice. This is a product of groundwater. Countless thin streams ooze from the mountain and merge into a single colorful waterfall. Thanks to these jets, the attraction got its name - White Threads. It is best to admire Shiraito in autumn - then an absolutely magnificent sight opens up.
Another beautiful creation of nature, which is located in the vastness of Japan, is the Fukiware Falls. It is called the Japanese Niagara and not without reason - in its shape it really resembles Niagara, albeit on a much smaller scale. The waterfall is not big, its height is only 7 meters, and its width is 30 meters, but it is very unusual, here the Japanese god took out the cork from the river and let the water down. This place is extremely beautiful. The waterfall is considered a national treasure of Japan. Walking along the cliffs on the riverbank can be quite dangerous, but there are ropes here to keep people safe. Fukivare Falls is located along the romantic road that leads from Nikko to Nagano.
