Fukuroda Falls

Fukuroda Falls is located in Daigo Town, Kuji District, Ibaraki Prefecture, and is counted as one of the Three Great Waterfalls of Japan, alongside Kegon Falls in Tochigi Prefecture and Nachi Falls in Wakayama Prefecture.
With a magnificent scale of approximately 120 meters in height and 73 meters in width, it has long captivated many people as one of Ibaraki Prefecture’s most celebrated scenic spots.

🏞️ Features of the Falls and the Origin of Its Name
Fukuroda Falls is a grand waterfall on the Takigawa, a tributary of the Kuji River, and is distinguished by the way it cascades down a massive rock face in four distinct stages.
Because of this shape, it was once also called “Yodo no Taki” (“the Fourfold Waterfall”); the name comes from the fact that it flows down in four tiers.
It is also said that when the Heian-period monk and poet Saigyo visited this area, he praised it by saying,
“You must come and see this waterfall once in each of the four seasons to truly appreciate its beauty.”
This anecdote helped Fukuroda Falls become widely known as a waterfall that changes its beauty with each season.

🍃 Seasonal Beauty
Fukuroda Falls is a famous waterfall that shows completely different expressions in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
🌸 Spring
As the harsh winter cold passes and the frozen waterfall begins to thaw, water starts to rush down with renewed force.
The fresh green leaves of new growth and the clear sound of flowing water blend together, bringing a sense of spring’s arrival.
☀️ Summer
Wrapped in lush greenery, the falls are popular as a cool summer retreat.
Water droplets sparkling in the sunlight create rainbows, producing a dreamlike beauty.
🍁 Autumn
It is especially famous as a destination for autumn foliage, and when the mountains turn red and gold, a stunning contrast with the waterfall unfolds.
From the First Viewing Platform, visitors can feel the waterfall’s power up close, while the Second Viewing Platform offers a sweeping view of the harmony between the falls and the autumn leaves.
The best viewing period is usually around November 10.
❄️ Winter
During the severe cold of winter, the entire waterfall freezes, creating a “hyobaku” (ice waterfall) of silvery-white ice.
The mystical scene, as if time itself has stopped, overwhelms all who visit.
Depending on weather conditions, the entire waterfall may freeze completely, and the spectacle is truly breathtaking.

💡 A Fantastical Nightscape: Daigo Light
During the autumn-to-winter illumination event known as “Daigo Light,” a magical space is created where light and water intertwine.
The great waterfall, 120 meters high and 73 meters wide, is lit up, radiating a mysterious glow born of nature and light.
It is a popular event that allows visitors to enjoy a fantastical side of Fukuroda Falls completely different from its daytime appearance.

🏔️ The Viewing Tunnel and Viewing Platforms
To view the waterfall, visitors pass through the dedicated Fukuroda Falls Tunnel.
Inside the approximately 276-meter-long tunnel are seasonal displays and monuments inspired by the mandarin duck, the town bird of Daigo.
Once through the tunnel, visitors arrive at the First Viewing Platform, where they can experience the overwhelming force of the water as it crashes down before them.
Furthermore, the Second Viewing Platform, newly established in 2008, features three-tiered decks reached by elevator, offering a panoramic view of the entire four-stage waterfall.
There is also a suspension bridge downstream, where visitors can enjoy a walk while looking up at the waterfall and the gorge.

🌿 Nearby Spot: Namase Falls
Upstream from Fukuroda Falls is another renowned waterfall, Namase Falls.
Cross the suspension bridge overlooking Fukuroda Falls and hike up the Tsukioreyama trail to discover this beautiful waterfall with a drop of about 15 meters.
The clear water flowing between the trees, along with the sound of birdsong in this tranquil natural setting, makes it a popular spot for strolling and photography.

🏅 Designation as a Scenic Spot and “Holy Site for Lovers”
On March 10, 2015, Fukuroda Falls and Namase Falls were designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.
In addition, in October of the same year, they were selected as a “Holy Site for Lovers” by the NPO Regional Revitalization Support Center.
The romantic scenery with the waterfall as a backdrop makes it a popular date spot, attracting many couples and tourists.

🌸 A Famous Waterfall Immortalized in Poetry
The Heian-period monk and poet Saigyo composed the following poem about Fukuroda Falls:

Flowers and autumn leaves, woven warp and weft,
As if woven by the mountain princess,
The brocade of Fukuroda Falls

This poem, which expresses the waterfall’s beauty amid autumn foliage as if “the goddess of the mountains were weaving brocade,” conveys the elegant charm of Fukuroda Falls to the present day.

Fukuroda Falls is one of Ibaraki Prefecture’s premier scenic spots, combining the grandeur worthy of one of Japan’s Three Great Waterfalls with the changing beauty of the four seasons. From fresh spring greenery, cool summer waters, and vibrant autumn foliage to the frozen ice waterfall of winter, it reveals a different kind of beauty each time you visit. With attractions such as the viewing tunnel and platforms, the illumination event “Daigo Light,” and the surrounding nature walks, there is no shortage of highlights. Visitors will surely find healing and inspiration in the vast natural artistry and tranquility created by nature.