10 Waterfalls in Nagano worth your time

A powerful 40-meter waterfall at the base of Mount Norikura, easily accessible via a short but steep forest trail.

What it is

• One of the Norikura Three Falls located at the base of Mount Norikura.
• A natural waterfall measuring 40 meters high and 15 meters wide.
• A scenic destination in Matsumoto City within the Nagano Prefecture mountains.

What to see

• The main 40-meter drop known as Bandokoro Otaki.
• Bandokoro Kotaki which is a smaller waterfall located upstream.
• The Sengenbuchi walking path situated above the main falls.
• Azumi Shrine located a short distance downstream from the site.
• Maple trees that surround the falls and walking paths.

When to go

• October is the best time to see the autumn maple colors.

Getting there

• Take an Alpico Kotsu bus to the Bandokoro Otaki bus stop.
• A steep walking path leads from the road to the falls in five minutes.
• Parking and restrooms are available near the prefectural road.

Read more about Bandokoro Falls

A scenic spot featuring three distinct waterfalls standing side by side at the base of Mount Norikura in Nagano Prefecture.

What it is

• A designated scenic spot featuring three waterfalls standing side by side.
• One of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls located at the base of Mount Norikura.
• A site situated near the confluence of three different rivers.
• One of the three major waterfalls in the Norikura area.

What to see

• Three distinct waterfalls that flow together in a single location.
• The rightmost waterfall which is the largest and widest of the three.
• Natural scenery designated as a protected spot by Nagano Prefecture.

When to go

• The winter season when all three waterfalls freeze into ice.

Getting there

• Take a bus to the Sanbon-daki bus stop to reach the area.
• Walk twenty-five minutes from the parking area to reach the falls.
• Private cars are prohibited on the road past the Sanbon-daki gate.

Read more about Sanbon Waterfalls

A fifty-meter waterfall on the Sakunohirasawa River featuring a shrine and a unique path that leads behind the cascading water.

What it is

• A natural waterfall with a fifty-meter drop located in Omachi City.
• A site featuring a shrine dedicated to the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi.
• A water source that flows directly into the Kanakuma River.

What to see

• A walking path that allows visitors to stand directly behind the falling water.
• A shrine dedicated to Kobo Daishi located near the base of the falls.
• A massive thirty-meter ice pillar that forms during the coldest winter months.

When to go

• Winter to see the waterfall frozen into a solid pillar of ice.

Getting there

• Twenty minutes by taxi from Shinano-Omachi Station.
• A local city bus stops at the Komatsuo bus stop near the site.
• Forty-five minutes by car from the Azumino Interchange.
• Twenty-five minutes by car from the Omi Interchange.

Read more about Yasaka Falls

A scenic waterfall site in Nagano featuring two permanent falls and a massive man-made phantom waterfall that appears once annually.

What it is

• A natural site in Kijimadaira Village featuring the Odaki and Medaki waterfalls.
• Home to the Tamataki Fudoson Shrine located near the cascading water.
• Site of a phantom waterfall created by a hydroelectric power plant since 1923.

What to see

• The Odaki waterfall which stands 23 meters high and 5 meters wide.
• The Medaki waterfall measuring 5 meters high and 5 meters wide.
• A phantom waterfall dropping from an 80-meter-high rock wall.
• The Tamataki Fudoson Shrine situated within the waterfall grounds.

When to go

• Visit on May 8th to witness the annual appearance of the phantom waterfall.

Getting there

• Take a 20-minute taxi ride from Iiyama Station to reach the falls.
• Drive 20 minutes from the Toyota-Iiyama Interchange to access the site.

Read more about Tarudaki Falls

A 21.5-meter waterfall at Mount Norikura named after a local fisherman, offering morning rainbows and easy hiking trail access.

What it is

• A waterfall measuring 21.5 meters high and 8 meters wide on the Koodono River.
• One of the Norikura Three Waterfalls located at the base of Mount Norikura.
• Named after a local fisherman called Zengoro who once frequented the area.

What to see

• The main waterfall drop which often displays rainbows during the morning hours.
• A dedicated viewing platform accessible via a path from the prefectural road.
• A walking trail that continues downstream from the main viewing platform area.

When to go

• Morning is the best time to visit to see rainbows as the falls face east.

Getting there

• A ten minute walk from the Suzuranbashi bus stop to the waterfall.
• Parking and toilets are available for visitors near the Suzuranbashi bus stop.

Read more about Zengorō Falls

A thirty-meter waterfall in Nagano where visitors can walk behind the cascade to experience the power of the Matsukawa River.

What it is

• A scenic waterfall measuring thirty meters high and five meters wide on the Matsukawa River.
• Formed by the natural erosion of tuff breccia over many years.
• Designated as an official scenic spot by Takayama Village in March 2003.
• Commonly known as Urami no Taki, which refers to seeing the falls from behind.

What to see

• A walking path that allows visitors to stand directly behind the falling water.
• The dramatic thirty-meter drop of the Matsukawa River over the rock face.
• Natural geological formations of tuff breccia visible around the waterfall site.

Getting there

• Located one hundred meters down a slope from Route 66.
• A thirty-five minute taxi ride from Suzaka Station.
• Nineteen kilometers from the Suzaka Nagano Higashi Interchange.

Read more about Kaminari Falls

A wide, curved waterfall in Karuizawa fed by groundwater that takes six years to filter through Mount Asama.

What it is

• A subterranean stream waterfall measuring three meters high and seventy meters wide
• The source of the Yukawa River located at an elevation of 1260 meters
• Formed by the 1783 eruption of Mount Asama with a garden-like appearance from the Showa era
• The type locality for the geological Shiraito pumice layer

What to see

• Groundwater flowing directly from the rock face like thin white threads
• Projection mapping events displayed across the water surface during summer nights
• The surrounding forest landscape that changes with the seasons

When to go

• Summer nights to witness the scheduled projection mapping events

Getting there

• Accessible by taking a local bus from Karuizawa Station

Read more about Shiraito Falls

A scenic waterfall and 750-year-old shrine in Nagano featuring twelve designated scenic spots and historical haiku monuments.

What it is

• A designated cultural property featuring a two-tiered waterfall on the Yanagi River.
• Taruhime Shrine stands beside the water and has existed for at least 750 years.
• The site is dedicated to the deity Taruhime-no-kami.
• The surrounding area is maintained as the Taruhime Literature and Nature Park.

What to see

• The upper waterfall measuring nine meters high and nine meters wide.
• A smaller lower fall measuring three meters high and one meter wide.
• Twelve designated scenic spots collectively known as the Taruhime Junisho.
• Several stone monuments engraved with haiku poetry located near the falls.

Getting there

• The falls are accessible by bus from JR Chino Station.

Read more about Taruhime Falls

A nationally designated scenic site featuring two massive waterfalls and a historic temple hall at the base of a caldera.

What it is

• A nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty consisting of two major waterfalls.
• The site features Gongen Falls and Fudo Falls originating from the Mount Azumaya caldera.
• The Yonako Fudo Okunoin Main Hall stands at the base as a city tangible cultural property.
• A Buddhist statue was enshrined at the site by the warlord Uesugi Kenshin.

What to see

• Gongen Falls which features a vertical drop of 82 meters.
• Fudo Falls which features a vertical drop of 89 meters.
• The historic Yonako Fudo Okunoin Main Hall building.
• A hiking trail loop that takes approximately 90 minutes to complete.

Getting there

• A free parking lot is located 40 minutes from the highway.

Read more about Yonako Falls

A scenic 15-meter waterfall in Nagano famously depicted in ukiyo-e prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige.

What it is

• A 15-meter waterfall sourced from Mount Kazakoshi in the Kiso Mountains
• Designated as one of the Eight Views of Kiso
• A historic site depicted in famous ukiyo-e woodblock prints
• A tributary located 100 meters from the Kiso River

What to see

• A JR Chuo Main Line railway bridge standing above the basin
• The waterfall drop of approximately 15 meters
• The nearby Nezame-no-toko scenic spot

When to go

• Mid-January to early February to see the falls frozen

Getting there

• Located approximately three kilometers from Agematsu Station
• Accessible via a parking lot next to National Route 19

Read more about Ono Falls