Kegon Waterfall (Kegon-no-taki [華厳の滝])

The Kegon Waterfall (Kegon-no-taki [華厳の滝]; also Kegon Falls) is the star natural attraction of the World Heritage-laced

This waterfall consisted of a main plunge followed by extensive cascades further downstream that seemed to have just as much cumulative height as the main part of the waterfall itself. I think the 97m measure pertained only to the main plunge, but I'm sure if someone wanted to give this waterfall the benefit of the doubt, it could've easily been more like 200m or something counting those cascades.

First, we were able to get nice top down views of the Kegon Waterfall from the free viewing decks, which were just a few minutes walk from the Chuzenji Onsen stop (a huge parking lot for buses and cars). However, we thought it was well worth shelling out the extra yen for an elevator ride that took us down to the lower viewing decks for a more frontal view of the falls as well as the cascades below it. When we showed up in the morning on a sunny day, we were blown away by the nice bold rainbows arcing across the base of the falls.

When we peered towards the downstream side of the viewing deck, we noticed that there was also another notable cascade, which we think was named Nehan Waterfall according to a sign here. Actually, we're still not quite sure if that additional cascade we saw was the Nehan Waterfall or if it was even further below us on the same stream that the Kegon Waterfall was on.

Even though we only had time to get the main views of the Kegon Waterfall, we knew that there were other pretty majestic views and walkways to experience. The one in particular that I'm thining of was based out of the Akechi-daira Stop. I believe there was a cable car to the top of a hill where there was a viewing deck of both Chuzenjiko and the falls as well as a 1.5km walk back down to the Chuzenji Onsen complex passing by a shrine and some fine views of Mt Nantai on clear days. The more I think about it, I wish we had made the time and do this extra option anyways. Oh well, maybe next time.

Directions: The Chuzenji-ko bus typically ran every half-hour. On the day we did it, we caught an early 6:35am bus in Nikko and arrived at the main Chuzenji-ko bus stop at around 7:30am or so.

To get to the Nikko area, we came here from Sendai on a 9:26am train bound for Utsunomiya. Then, we barely caught a 10:40am train right to Nikko getting there around 11:30am. We had to walk from the JR station to the Tobu-Nikko Station where we got the local timetables and bought that All Nikko Bus Pass.

On the way out, we caught a 6:46am train bound for Utsunomiya then connected from there at 8:10am and caught a shinkansen back to Tokyo (Shinjuku Station, I believe) getting there at around 9:45am.

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This way or that way?

Closeup of the falls from the free viewing deck

We noticed this cliff of basalt columns from the lower viewing deck

The falls and cascade in long exposure

Closeup of the falls with rainbow

Nehan Waterfall sign. Though to be honest, I'm not so sure we even noticed it!

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Looking down at the falls from the free viewing deck


View of the cascade and main waterfall with rainbow from the lower viewing deck


Not sure if this was the falls or not, but in either case, it was a decent cascade

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TRIP REPORTS

• May 25, 2009

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NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Yu Waterfall
• Ryuzu Waterfall
• Urami Waterfall
• Kirifuri Waterfall

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