Located in a prefectural Natural Park in Maniwa, northwest Okayama, the 110m high, 20m wide ‘Kanba no Taki’ waterfall is the biggest in west Japan. As well as having been chosen as a place of national scenic beauty, it is also one of the best “100 waterfalls in Japan”.

Walking along the promenade from the parking area to the waterfall takes about 5 minutes.

As the waterfall is known for its exceptional beauty in autumn, now is a great to time to visit – the park is a mass of autumn color.

However, the park is most famous for the 200 or so resident wild monkeys that welcome visitors!

Ōsaka University originally began feeding the monkeys in 1957, even though they weren’t breeding them. The monkeys are wild. When there’s an abundance of wild strawberries or tree nuts on the mountain, they tend not to show up in the park.

That said, when the park staff sprinkle food around the promenade and call out to them, the monkeys come down to eat with great enthusiasm!

Hmmm… baby monkeys are playing – they must be full now.

The awesome sight and roar of the waterfalls in the background behind those baby monkeys… There is no other place like it!

The monkeys also appear to be enjoying the autumn colors.

Oh, my gaze met the monkey’s – what cute little eyes they have!

While appreciating the wild waterfall that runs off a sheer cliff, we can also relish the colors of autumn in the presence of cute monkeys.

Why not go see the autumn foliage with a couple of additional attractions this year?

Location: Kanba Maniwa-shi, Okayama

Website (Japanese): http://cms.top-page.jp/p/maniwa/3/3/17/

(PDF for English): http://www.e-maniwa.net/image/maniwa_english.pdf

City of Maniwa website (Japanese): http://www.city.maniwa.lg.jp/webapps/www/info/detail_2.jsp?id=3000

Admission: Adults 300 yen

Hours: 08:30 – 17:15 (Please do not bring pets to the park)

Closed: Around Dec. 29 – Jan. 3

Setouchi FInder Photo-writer: Hironobu Matsuoka