Guidebook
Lonely Planet Japan
Lonely Planet · 2024
The 18th edition covers Nikko, the Kii Peninsula and Ibaraki, so one book handles Kegon, Nachi and Fukuroda.
Japan · Akiu
Akiu Great Falls
Akiu Great Falls is a waterfall located in Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty.
Essentials guide
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Akiu Great Falls drops 55 metres (180 ft) across a face roughly 6 metres wide. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Akiu, Japan. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Akiu Great Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Akiu are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Getting there
- Base town Akiu, Japan
- Country Japan
- Region Akiu, East Asia, Asia
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Akiu Great Falls
Japan
Height55 mWidth6 m
Most similar
Nungnung Falls
Indonesia
Height50 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in Indonesia
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
50 m
55 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Nungnung FallsAkiu Great FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Akiu Great Falls
6 m
Angel Falls is 18× taller than Akiu Great Falls. Victoria Falls is 2.0× taller and 285× wider. Khone Phapheng Falls is 1797× wider. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Books worth packing
The Rough Guide to JapanRough Guides
Guidebook
The Rough Guide to Japan
Rough Guides · 2024
A current alternative to Lonely Planet, with practical detail on rail passes and getting to Nikko and the Kii Peninsula.
DK Eyewitness JapanDK Eyewitness
Guidebook
DK Eyewitness Japan
DK Eyewitness · 2024
Illustrated coverage of Nikko's shrines and the Kumano sites, handy for understanding what surrounds Kegon and Nachi.
On the map
38.27492, 140.60292
Quick answers
Where is Akiu Great Falls?
Akiu Great Falls is in Japan (Akiu). The nearest base is Akiu, Japan. Its coordinates are 38.2749, 140.6029.
How tall is Akiu Great Falls?
Akiu Great Falls drops 55 metres (180 feet), across a face about 6 metres wide. It is a plunge-type waterfall.
When is the best time to visit Akiu Great Falls?
Peak flow is May to July and October to November. Snowmelt and the June rains fill the falls; October and November add autumn colour.
What can you do at Akiu Great Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Akiu Great Falls?
The usual base is Akiu, Japan. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Akiu Great Falls
Sankai Falls
Japan · 181 m · 17 km away
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Namekawa Great Falls
Japan · 100 m · 60 km away
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Nanatsu Falls
Japan · 100 m · 70 km away
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Shiraito Falls (Tozawa)
Japan · 70 km away
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