Kamuiwakka Waterfall (Kamuiwakka-no-taki [カムイワッカの滝])

The Kamuiwakka Waterfall (Kamuiwakka-no-taki [カムイワッカの滝]; Kamuiwakka Falls) is a pretty well-known rotemburo (hot springs waterfall) deep in the wild

The first way is up close to one of its upper tiers where you can soak in the sulphur-rich hot water right beneath one of the falls. Unfortunately, we weren't able to exercise this option because we needed to take the unsealed road through bear country on a shuttle bus that ran only from July 15 to August 15! We weren't sure if this very restrictive access was to protect the bears or for maintenance and remodeling or all of these. In any case, we were here a month too early so we had to find another way to see the falls.

So the other way to experience the falls was to see its lower tiers from the Sea of Okhotsk on a pretty pricey 2- or 4-hour boat ride (though its price is kind of on par with some boat rides we've been on in the States). From this perspective, the Kamuiwakka Waterfall was merely one of many waterfalls we saw along the northern coastline of the Shiretoko-hanto (Shiretoko Peninsula).

However, a particular quirk about this waterfall that stood out from the rest was the way the sulfur-rich freshwater stream mixed with the seawater. The end result was an area of dense greenish water immediately surrounding the outflow of the Kamuiwakka Stream as well as yellow-stained rocks in the area. We were especially able to see the stark contrast between the familiar deep blue color of the sea juxtaposed with the greenish mineral-rich water from the falls as they mixed.

We're not sure what the word "kamuiwakka" means, but we do know it's an Ainu (the indigenous peoples of Hokkaido and surrounding islands as well as Northern Honshu) word as evidenced by the many Japanese sound characters in its kanji name spelled out.

Even though we didn't do the land-based option, we did see the unsealed turnoff (which was gated) deep into the 40-minute drive from Utoro to the Five Lakes part of Shiretoko National Park.

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Angled closeup look at the last falls tier (note the yellow rocks right on the coastline attesting to the sulphurous nature of the water)

Direct look at the falls

Another direct look at the falls

Looking back at the falls with marvelous coastal rocks coming into view

Distant look at Kamuiwakka Waterfall showing more of one of its upper tiers

Some volcanic peak we noticed during the boat ride

One of the reflectives lakes comprising the Shiretoko Five Lakes, where the road access to Kamuiwakka Waterfall branched off from the road to get here.

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Short bottom up sweep of the falls with loud speakers blaring in the background

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TRIP REPORTS

• June 8, 2009

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NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Oshinkoshin Waterfall
• Furepe Waterfall
• Shiretoko Waterfalls

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