Nameless Great Falls

[Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls] A breathtaking sight as it cascades down a giant monolith. An adventure into the hidden realm, 'Namekawa Great Falls'

Boasting one of the largest scales in Tohoku, the famous waterfall 'Namekawa Great Falls' is also listed among 'Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls'. Hidden deep within the forests of the Azuma mountain range, this waterfall offers visitors an overwhelming sense of achievement and emotion, as if they have reached a 'true hidden realm'.

■ A unique aesthetic beauty of 'sliding down' rather than vertical

The quirky highlight is its distinctive form that flows as if it is 'sliding', just as its name suggests.

• Art of the giant monolith: With a drop of about 80m and a width of about 40m, it is of colossal scale. Instead of plummeting straight down, the white waves split and slide down the smooth rock surface.
• Coexistence of grandeur and elegance: The form sculpted by nature over an immense period of time resonates with a powerful roar, yet it also harbors a delicate beauty reminiscent of silk threads.

■ A little hiking adds spice to the 'joy of reaching'

The path to the waterfall involves crossing a suspension bridge and ascending a mountain trail along the stream, making it a bit of a trekking route.

• The best spice: The process of 'walking with a little effort' for about 20 to 30 minutes enhances the emotion of the great waterfall that finally appears when the view opens up.
• Adventure spot: Experiencing the negative ions as you pass through the green tunnel is truly a time suitable for an adult adventure, diving into the deep nature of Yonezawa.