Continuing on from Todoroki Hontaki Waterfall and the Todoroki Shrine introduced in Part 1,  (https://setouchifinder.com/en/detail/3545), this time I’m going to be visiting the group of upstream falls known as the Todoroki 99 Waterfalls.

On the way back from Todoroki Hontaki, the route splits in two after crossing a bridge. While the first trail takes you back to the parking area, the other one leads upstream. 

The surroundings of Todoroki Shrine are dotted with a number of falls, which are known collectively as the “Todoroki 99 Waterfalls”. The entire mountain is almost like a waterfall gallery. It’ s about 1500-meters from Todoroki Hontaki waterfall to the one furthest upstream. If you have 2 hours for a round trip, you can enjoy relaxed forest-bathing while visiting all of the falls between. 

Right at the beginning of the walking course there is a slightly steep staircase. After climbing it, you can see the 10-meter high Niju-daki Falls. The two waterfalls flow down on the left and on the right, almost in line, and I can see a rainbow over these falls, too!

I continue walking upstream along the trail. On both sides of the trail there are countless nameless waterfalls, and I enjoy all the negative ions and some forest-bathing! 

The Yokomi-no-taki waterfall is around 15-meters high. If you follow the signboards from the walking trail and take a side road, you will reach a point that offers a great view of the waterfall in its entirety.

Immediately downstream of Yokomi-no-taki there’s a slightly deeper ravine. The green of the trees is reflected on the river’s surface, and the beautifully green waters flow on downstream. 

A little further upstream there is a resting area with benches that offers views down on countless tiny waterfalls dripping down the rock surface.

To the left of these rocks is Funagata-no-taki waterfall, but you won’t be able to see it without going all the way down to the riverbank.

With abundant waters crashing down with a roar, the 15-meter high Marubuchi-no-daki waterfall is a 50-meter walk from here!

And another 50-meters walk further on, I reach the 10-meter high Torigaeshi-daki waterfall, which is characterized by its beautiful plunge basin. Up until this point, waterfalls appear one after another. 

However, from this point on, there’s a 700-meter climb up a mountain trail before you see the next one. If you’re not used to walking in forests, it may be a good idea to walk as the Torigaeshi-daki waterfall and then turn back. 

After another 15-20 minutes of progressing along the trail, finally the last waterfall appears! Along the trail you’ll see the Nabewari Shrine and although the course continues ahead, there is a signboard saying “There are no waterfalls after this”.

Finally I arrive at the highest point of the waterfall gallery! I first pay a visit to the shrine and then head down to the falls.

With a height of around 20-meters, the Nabewari-daki falls is the last one! It’s next in height to the Todoroki Hondaki waterfall, which is located furthest downstream.

I watch carefully where I step as I go down the rocky surface and take a roundabout path right in front of the waterfall. Due to the large stone in front, the view is slightly obstructed. However, the waterfall has a full impact! 

Although the mountain trail felt slightly long from around midway, it was well worth persevering all the way to the last waterfall! As it’s all downhill, the way back is easy and I enjoy seeing all the waterfalls again on my return journey. Only a little time may have passed, but as the angle of the sunlight changes, each waterfall may seem completely different. Both on the way up and the way back down again, you can enjoy the waterfalls to their fullest while having a negative ion filled forest bath! 

Do have a go at touring the Todoroki 99 Waterfalls, combined with the Todoroki Shrine and Todoroki Hondaki waterfall introduced in Part 1! (https://setouchifinder.com/en/detail/3545).

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Todoroki Falls (Todoroki 99 Waterfalls)

Location: Hirai, Kaiyo-cho, Kaifu district, Tokushima prefecture
Parking: Available (Toll-free)

http://www.kaiyo-kankou.jp/index.php/play2t/todoroki (Japanese) 

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Hironobu Matsuoka