Did you know that there are a myriad of lovely waterfalls in Tokushima prefecture? Selected among the top 100 in Japan, this time we’d like to introduce Amagoi Falls, which are located in central Tokushima prefecture, along Konedanigawa River, within the drainage system of Yoshino River. 

This is the entrance to the trail that leads to Amagoi Falls. It’s around an 800-meter walk that takes you through deep forest.

We climb up the hill road along the valley, and right away some utterly refreshing waterfalls appear before us!

Uguisu Falls are around 10-meters high.

We continue climbing on while admiring the falls from the side.

The hill road is steeper than I imagined, and it makes the distance feel longer. However, there are plenty of beautiful small waterfalls and streams to admire, so you won’t get bored. And if you take a break every now and then, you won’t get too tired either. 

Here is Momiji Waterfall. It’s around 8 meters high. Faithful to its name, the falls are surrounded by Japanese maples (‘momiji’).

When I visited the area in mid-November, the leaves had not yet changed color… The peak of the autumn foliage season is around late November! 

At last we reach a point only about 100m from our target! Although the trail is a long, long hill road, the signs placed here and there along the way showing the distance left to the falls give you some reassurance. You can even find encouraging signs such as: “400 meters to the falls, Ganbatte!” (“Do your best” or “You can do it”)!

This is the Kannon Waterfall with a height of around 8 meters. After passing this point, you’re nearly at the finish line! 

With the Kannon Waterfall to our side, we climb up the last hill. I wonder what kind of view awaits us! My expectations are growing!! 

As we finish climbing the hill, the view before us opens up as we finally reach Amagoi Falls!

It’s a two-part “couple” waterfall with “Odaki” (the “male”) on the left at 27 meters and “Medaki” (the “female”) on the right at 45 meters. They have an impact incomparable to the falls we saw on the way here! 

Here is a close up of “Medaki” on the right! Looking at this refined three-step fall, the fatigue from the climb just slips away! 

The origin of the name of the falls comes from an ancient event where farmers were troubled by a long period of drought. They came to this site in sedge hats and straw rain capes, and banging bells and drums held a ritual to pray for rain (‘amagoi’ = ‘pray for rain’).

Leaving aside how much truth there is in the legend, just standing by the falls feels as if I might receive some sort of mystic energy… That’s the kind of mystic aura these famed falls have!

If you wish to visit during the autumn foliage season, the peak is usually in late November. It’s a great time to enjoy both the colorful leaves and some walking by the mountain stream! 

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Amagoi Falls
Location: Tani, Jinryo, Kamiyama-cho, Myozai district, Tokushima prefecture
Parking: Available (toll-free)
http://www.awanavi.jp/spot/2013032500316/ (Japanese)
http://www.topia.ne.jp/english/tourism/sightseeing/eastern_tokushima/e-09.html (English Info)

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Hironobu Matsuoka