Namekawa Great Falls

Namekawa Great Falls hang in the mountains at an elevation of about 860 meters, on the upper Matsukawa River, a tributary of the Abukuma River. They drop about 80 meters and are about 40 meters wide, which is regarded as among the largest scale in the Tohoku region, and they are included in Japan's 100 Waterfalls. The water runs down a rhyolite rock face, and nearby there are other falls, including one called Kuguri-daki. You can also go down to the basin and look up at them from close range, and in autumn the white flow stands out against the colored leaves. Looking from the viewpoint, a fall known as Nunobiki-no-taki sometimes appears to the upper right of the main falls, but only when the water is high, such as during the snowmelt.

The base for a visit is Namekawa Onsen, a lone inn near the border between Yamagata and Fukushima. From the parking area at the hot spring, a mountain trail climbs to the Otaki observation deck on a ridge in about 20 to 30 minutes on foot. A suspension bridge crosses the stream along the way. For a time it was closed because of age, but a new bridge about 20 meters long was installed in 2022, improving access.

From the observation deck there is also a route down to the basin, which takes about another 30 minutes. Because it is a mountain path, conditions depend on the weather and the state of the stream. While the suspension bridge was closed for age, guidance introduced a detour from Ubayu Onsen via Yakushimori to the Otaki observation deck, about 2 hours 40 minutes one way. There is also a stream-climbing course that follows the stream upward from Namekawa Bridge.

By car it takes about 40 minutes from Fukushima-Iizaka IC on the Tohoku Expressway to Namekawa Onsen. By train, the nearest station is Toge on the JR Ou Main Line, known as an unmanned, remote station. Guests staying at Namekawa Onsen can get a pickup from Toge Station, and it takes about 20 minutes to the hot spring.

Timing needs particular care. Roads around here are closed in winter from early November to the end of May, and in winter you must walk 3 to 4 hours from Toge Station to reach the falls. Conditions of the suspension bridge and trail can also change, so it is safest to check with the Yonezawa City Tourism Division (0238-22-5111) before setting out. Elsewhere in the Yonezawa area, the Bandai-Azuma Skyline, already listed on this site, is about 8 km away and can be planned together as a scenic drive.