Hagoromo Waterfall (Hagoromo-no-taki [羽衣の滝])

Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan

About Hagoromo Waterfall (Hagoromo-no-taki [羽衣の滝])

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The Hagoromo Waterfall (Hagoromo-no-taki [羽衣の滝]; Hagoromo Falls or “Angel’s Robe Falls”) sat on the western side of Daisetsuzan National Park in the Tenninkyo Gorge.

This one was said to drop some 270m in multiple steps comprised of sheets of water giving it the appearance of an angel’s robe as the kanji translation seemed to hint at (Mom says it’s “feathered clothing waterfall” in Chinese).

Daisetsuzan_107_06052009 - The Hagoromo Waterfall
The Hagoromo Waterfall

Aside from the multitude of man-modified waterfalls scattered around this falls, there was also another natural one 300m further upstream on the Chubetsu River called the Shikishima Waterfall.

Unfortunately, bear activity closed the trail to that one on our first visit (along with strong discouragement from Julie) while landslides definitely shut down that trail on our second visit some 14 years later.

Experiencing the Hagoromo Waterfall – Landslide Aftermath

In the 14 years between our first and second visits to the Tenninkyo Gorge, we noticed that many things have changed regarding the Hagoromo Waterfall experience.

First, the walk from the Tenninkyo Onsen Complex to the waterfall was now 1km in each direction (or 2km round-trip) along a more primitive and undulating forested trail.

Hagoromo_032_07142023 - Context of the major landslide and the abandoned onsen resort along with the abandoned car park across from it as seen during our eerily-quiet July 2023 visit
Context of the major landslide and the abandoned onsen resort along with the abandoned car park across from it as seen during our eerily-quiet July 2023 visit

The extra hiking distance was a combination of the old car park and the nearest onsen building both being destroyed by a major landslide across the gorge (that also impacted the road bridge) along with the old riverside trail also being obliterated.

Second, the viewing area for the Hagoromo Waterfall is now limited to a streamside opening at what was once a picnic area (before rockfalls now littered the area with giant boulders).

The former trail to a more elevated lookout showing a companion waterfall converging with the main waterfall is also no longer accessible legally.

Moreover, as alluded to earlier, the trail continuing to the Shikishima Waterfall was no longer accessible due to the rockfalls and landslides around the confluence of the Hagoromo Stream and the Chubetsu River.

Hagoromo_079_07142023 - This is the new viewing area for the Hagoromo Waterfall after landslides and rock falls have cut off access to the former viewpoint as well as the continuation of the trail to Shikishima Falls as of our July 2023 visit
This is the new viewing area for the Hagoromo Waterfall after landslides and rock falls have cut off access to the former viewpoint as well as the continuation of the trail to Shikishima Falls as of our July 2023 visit

Indeed, landslides and geological instability seemed to have heavily impacted experiencing this waterfall, and thus the excursion was almost completely different from how it was the first time.

Experiencing the Hagoromo Waterfall – How It Used To Be

Just to give you an idea of how much has changed, here’s a quick run down of how we experienced the Hagoromo Waterfall on our first visit back in June 2009.

From the nearest car park within the onsen complex in Tenninkyo, we followed a very well-developed 600m path alongside a river with a few man-modified waterfalls on it.

We then made it to a bridge spanning a tributary stream just downstream from the Hagoromo-no-taki.

Daisetsuzan_089_06052009 - Context of the trail following along the river as we pursued the Hagoromo Waterfall
Context of the trail following along the river as we pursued the Hagoromo Waterfall

We noticed some signage and a few picnic tables in the area, which suggested to us that it would’ve been a pretty nice place for a picnic (thanks in large part to the view of the waterfall).

However, we weren’t satisfied with this view so we took a spur trail that left the main trail before the bridge, followed alongside a smaller tributary, and then climbed up some stairs.

Once we got to the top of the stairs, we found ourselves at a viewing platform at the spur trail’s end giving us a more direct view of the Hagoromo Waterfall (i.e. the view you see at the top of this page).

It took us about 45 minutes round trip to do this excursion, which was pleasantly quiet and naturesque.

Daisetsuzan_136_06052009 - Barricade discouraging further progress to the Shikishima Waterfall right after the turnoff for the spur trail to the Hagoromo Waterfall
Barricade discouraging further progress to the Shikishima Waterfall right after the turnoff for the spur trail to the Hagoromo Waterfall

The walk was mostly flat alongside the river with the lone exception being the stairs to the upper overlook.

Shortly after the main trail continued beyond the bridge spanning the Hagoromo Falls’ tributary stream, we were then stopped by a signed barricade indicating the trail’s continuation was closed due to bear activity.

Even though the Shikishima Waterfall was barely 300m from where we were at, we opted not to chance it (though part of me still regretted not doing this).

Authorities

The Hagoromo Waterfall resides near Asahikawa in the Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. It is administered by the Daisetsuzan National Park. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting the Ministry of the Environment website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual members. See Membership Options.
Content is for members. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: tenninkyo, asahikawa, asahi, angels robe, bears, hokkaido, daisetsuzan, national park, shikishima, japan, waterfall



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Shikishima Waterfall (Shikishima-no-taki) October 1, 2009 2:18 pm by Dean Goss - You saw MUCH more water here than I did. Hagoromo is easily the Japanese waterfall I was most curious about prior to my visit to Japan. For what it's worth, I also found the trail to Shikishima-no-taki closed, but Yusemi, the wonderful man who showed us around merely shrugged and motioned us to come along.… ...Read More

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About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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