Nachi Waterfall, Aki Travel Guide

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Witness Japan's tallest waterfall, a sacred site nestled within the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails and lush forests.

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Nachi Waterfall

Nachi Waterfall (Nachi no Taki) is Japan's tallest waterfall with a single uninterrupted drop of 133 meters. Revered since ancient times as a sacred dwelling of Shinto deities, it's a key spiritual site in the Kumano region and a stunning natural wonder.

A brief summary to Nachi Waterfall

Nachisan, Nachikatsuura, Nachisan, Higashimuro District, Wakayama, 649-5301, JP
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Monday 7:30 am-4:30 pm
Tuesday 7:30 am-4:30 pm
Wednesday 7:30 am-4:30 pm
Thursday 7:30 am-4:30 pm
Friday 7:30 am-4:30 pm
Saturday 7:30 am-4:30 pm
Sunday 7:30 am-4:30 pm

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Nachi Waterfall.

Wear comfortable shoes for walking on the stone steps and exploring the surrounding trails.
Visit early in the morning to avoid crowds and experience the falls in a tranquil setting.
Purchase a ticket to the viewing platform for an unobstructed, closer view of Nachi Falls.
Take time to explore the nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine and Seiganto-ji Temple to appreciate the area's spiritual significance.
Sample the sacred water from the waterfall's basin, believed to grant good fortune and long life.

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Explore Nachi Waterfall on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Nachi Waterfall, mapped for you.

Getting There

Public Transport

From Kii-Katsuura Station, take the Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus. Bus number 31, headed for Nachi Falls, takes approximately 30 minutes. Get off at the 'Nachi-no-Taki-mae' bus stop, which is a short 5-minute walk to the waterfall. The one-way bus fare is around 630 yen for adults and 320 yen for children.
Walking

For those interested in hiking a portion of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, take the bus from Kii-Katsuura Station to the 'Daimonzaka' bus stop. From there, walk the Daimonzaka trail, a 600-meter cobblestone path lined with ancient cedar trees, leading to Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine and then down to Nachi Waterfall. Allow approximately 1-2 hours for the Daimonzaka walk to Nachi Falls.
Taxi

Taxis are available from both Nachi Station and Kii-Katsuura Station. A taxi ride from Nachi Station to Nachi Falls takes about 6 minutes and costs approximately 3,400 - 4,100 yen. From Kii-Katsuura Station, the taxi ride is slightly longer and may cost more.

Discover more about Nachi Waterfall

Nachi Waterfall, located in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, is one of Japan's most iconic and tallest waterfalls. With a staggering 133-meter drop and a width of 13 meters, it is the tallest waterfall in Japan with a single, uninterrupted fall. The falls have been a site of spiritual significance for centuries, with the cascading water itself considered a deity.Nachi Waterfall has been worshipped since ancient times and is the object of veneration at Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine. The falls are considered a sacred dwelling place of a deity and are rooted in ancient “water deity worship,” where the deity that brings blessings of water was highly revered. The waterfall also appears in many historical texts and poems, celebrated for its beauty and mystique. The harmonious relationship between Shinto and Buddhist beliefs can be seen in the close proximity between the Buddhist Seiganto-ji Temple and Shinto Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine.Visitors can approach the base of the falls to appreciate their power and beauty. For a closer view, there is a viewing platform that requires a small admission fee. The water flowing from Nachi Waterfall comes from the primeval forest of Mount Ogumotori, with over a ton of water cascading down every second. The surrounding area is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, offering visitors the chance to explore the natural beauty of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes.