Japan · Wakayama, Kii Peninsula
Nachi Falls
那智滝
Japan's tallest single-drop waterfall is itself worshipped as a Shinto deity, with a vermillion three-story pagoda framed directly against the falling water in one of the country's most photographed religious sites. It anchors a stop on the UNESCO-listed Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes.
Japan's tallest single-drop waterfall is itself worshipped as a Shinto deity, with a vermillion three-story pagoda framed directly against the falling water in one of the country's most photographed religious sites. It anchors a stop on the UNESCO-listed Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes.
Nachi Falls drops 133 metres (436 ft) on the Nachi, inside Yoshino-Kumano National Park. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Nachikatsuura, with KIX the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Spring and autumn give mild hiking weather on the pilgrimage trail leading here.
What you can do here
Hiking
From ten-minute boardwalks to multi-day approaches through cloud forest.
Photography
Light angles, moonbows, spray management and the hours that actually work.
When to go
Spring and autumn give mild hiking weather on the pilgrimage trail leading here.
Entry: Small shrine grounds fee
Getting there
- Base townNachikatsuura
- AirportKIX
- CountryJapan
- RegionWakayama, Kii Peninsula, Asia
- AccessEasy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
On the map
33.6667, 135.8892
Quick answers
How tall is Nachi Falls?
Nachi Falls drops 133 metres (436 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Nachi.
When is the best time to visit Nachi Falls?
Peak flow is March to April and October to November. Spring and autumn give mild hiking weather on the pilgrimage trail leading here.
What can you do at Nachi Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Nachi Falls?
The usual base is Nachikatsuura, and the closest airport is KIX. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Small shrine grounds fee.
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