ABOUT
About this spot
Abe Great Falls is a waterfall on the upper reaches of the Abe River in the northern part of Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City. It stands near the Umegashima hot spring area and is also known as Suruga Great Falls and Otome Falls. The drop is about 80 m and the width about 4 m, though figures vary, and the water falls in a single straight plunge. The falls were chosen as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls in 1990. It is sometimes counted among the three great waterfalls of Japan, and it hangs on the Sakasa River, a tributary of the Abe River. The cliff behind the falls is made of alternating sandstone and shale beds of the Paleogene Setogawa Group. The trail to the falls starts near the Abe-no-Otaki-iriguchi bus stop, a little downhill from Umegashima Onsen along Prefectural Route 29. It is about 1.2 km long and crosses suspension bridges; on foot from the hot spring town it takes about 45 minutes one way. Plan on roughly one and a half to two hours in total and wear sturdy shoes. The falls can also be seen from a forest road about 2.5 km from the hot spring town. Other falls nearby include Koigataki, Onsen Yudaki and Akamizu Falls. Day-use bathing is available at the Umegashima hot springs. Roads in the mountains can close depending on weather, so check current conditions with the Umegashima Onsen tourist association before you go.
Last updated October 24, 2026