Hirayu Falls

What it is

• A 64-meter high waterfall located on the Otaki River in Gifu Prefecture
• One of the officially designated Top 100 Waterfalls in Japan
• A site linked by legend to the discovery of hot springs by Takeda Shingen's troops

What to see

• A powerful water drop measuring 6 meters in width
• Massive ice formations created when the entire waterfall freezes in winter
• Illuminated ice pillars during the annual winter light-up event

When to go

• February for the special winter light-up festival
• Winter months to see the waterfall completely frozen into ice

Getting there

• A 25-minute walk from the Hirayu Bus Terminal to the site
• Accessible via the Hirayu Interchange on the Chubu Jukan Expressway
• A free shuttle bus operates between the park area and the falls

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.