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 · Okinawa Prefecture
Hiji Falls
Hiji Falls is a National Park and a popular tourist destination on the island and prefecture of Okinawa, Japan. It is located in the northern part of the Okinawa Island, approximately 20 kilometers north of the city of Nago and close to the Yambaru National Park.
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.
Hiji Falls drops over a series of steps. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Kunigami, Japan. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
Also good forCampingHikingPhotographyWildlife & safari
When to go
Getting there
- Base town Kunigami, Japan
- Country Japan
- Region Okinawa Prefecture, East Asia, Asia
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Hiji Falls
Japan
Height—Width—
Most similar
Vattaparai Falls
India
Height—Width—
Also a cascade waterfall and in India
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
108 m
330 m
979 m
Victoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
We don't have a reliable crest width for Hiji Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. 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
26.71056, 128.18639
Quick answers
Where is Hiji Falls?
Hiji Falls is in Japan (Okinawa Prefecture). The nearest base is Kunigami, Japan. Its coordinates are 26.7106, 128.1864.
When is the best time to visit Hiji 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 Hiji Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: swimming, camping, hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
Can you swim at Hiji Falls?
Yes — swimming is a normal part of a visit to Hiji Falls, in the pools away from the falling water. Only swim where it is permitted on the day, stay clear of the base of the falls where currents recirculate, and skip it after heavy rain.
How do you get to Hiji Falls?
The usual base is Kunigami, Japan. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Hiji Falls
Ogawa Falls
Japan · 46 m · 560 km away
Ogawa Falls is located in Minamiōsumi, Kagoshima, Japan, the town in the southern tip of the Osumi Peninsula.…
Golden Waterfall
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The Golden Waterfall is a waterfall located near a village named Jiufen in Ruifang District, New Taipei…
Shifen Waterfall
Taiwan · 20 m · 670 km away
Shifen Waterfall is a scenic waterfall located in Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on the upper…
Lingjiao Waterfall
Taiwan · 670 km away
The Lingjiao Waterfall is a waterfall in Pingxi District, New Taipei, Taiwan.