Oshinkoshin Waterfall (Oshinkoshin-no-taki [オシンコシンの滝])

The Oshinkoshin Waterfall (Oshinkoshin-no-taki [オシンコシンの滝]) was a very beautiful waterfall that was kind of split in the middle by a tree-covered rock as the water made it way into the Sea of Okhotsk not much further downstream. In a way, it was kind of a precursor to the gorgeous and naturesque beauty of

From the elongated roadside car park (see directions below), we walked up a short but wide stairway terminating at the misty front of the falls. We appreciated the wide-angle lens to capture the falls from this vantage point (except for the mist getting onto the lens). We weren't sure if there was another way to get different views of this waterfall from its top (we did see what appeared to be railings up there) let alone how we would've gotten up there, but I'm sure it would've been worth it to see the falls backed by the Sea of Okhotsk. Besides, I thought I did notice some photo to that effect on some tourist brochures.

On the other side of the road (definitely have to cross it carefully as cars zoom by this stretch of highway), we could see what was left of the cascading stream spilling right into the sea.

The name of the falls is actually an Ainu word, which is probably why there are so many characters in its kanji name, which are probably to aid in its pronunciation. Not sure what it means though.

Directions: The drive from Shari to Utoro is about an hour or so at a leisurely pace.

It took us a brutally long 5-hour drive to get from Asahikawa to Oshinkoshin Waterfall along a combination of Hwy 40 (to get out of Asahikawa), Hwy 39, and Hwy 334. Again, the 50km/h speed limit throughout much of the drive was also painfully slow.

As mentioned earlier, Utoro is just another 10 minutes beyond this waterfall.

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More direct view of the Oshinkoshin Waterfall

Looking back at part of the falls and the Sea of Okhotsk

The stream downstream of the falls as seen from the bridge

Looking back at the steps and part of the falls from across the highway

More familiar look at the stairs right before the falls

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Direct look at the waterfall from close up


View of the cascade beneath the falls from the highway bridge

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TRIP REPORTS

• June 7, 2009

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NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Kamuiwakka Waterfall
• Furepe Waterfall
• Shiretoko Waterfalls

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