Shomyo Falls

Shomyo Falls is the tallest waterfall in Japan, a colossal ribbon of water that plunges 350 meters in four great tiers down a sheer volcanic cliff at the foot of the Tateyama mountains. Fed by snowmelt and rainfall from the high plateau above, it drops in stages into a mist-filled gorge with a roar that gives the falls its name — shomyo refers to the chanting of Buddhist sutras, which the ancient monks who traversed these sacred mountains heard in the water's thunder. Designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty and a Natural Monument, it is a spectacle of raw natural power set in pristine mountain scenery.

The falls are at their most awesome during the spring thaw. As the deep snowpack of the Tateyama range melts in late spring and early summer, a second, seasonal waterfall called Hannoki Falls appears alongside Shomyo, cascading from an even greater height. When Hannoki is running at full force, the combined drop is even taller, and the two side-by-side torrents create one of the most dramatic waterfall scenes in the country. By late summer Hannoki dwindles and often vanishes, leaving Shomyo alone but still magnificent, while autumn frames the whole gorge in brilliant reds and golds.

The approach is part of the experience. From the bus drop-off, a walking path follows the Shomyo River up a lush, forested valley of about 30 minutes to a viewing area near the base of the falls, where the sheer scale of the drop and the spray hanging in the air become fully apparent. The trail is well maintained and moderate, and interpretive signs explain the geology and the falls' long association with the mountain-worship traditions of Tateyama, one of Japan's three sacred peaks. The columnar basalt cliffs over which the water pours are themselves a geological marvel.

Unlike many of Toyama's mountain attractions, Shomyo Falls is free to visit, though access is seasonal. The road and trail are generally open from around late April to November, closing in winter when snow blankets the valley; the falls are not part of the paid Alpine Route proper but are reached by a separate seasonal bus from Tateyama Station, at the foot of the mountains. Because the valley is cool and the spray constant, a light jacket is useful even in summer, and sturdy shoes help on the sometimes-damp path.

Shomyo pairs naturally with a trip up the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, as both start from Tateyama Station, and it makes a superb half-day excursion in its own right. For travelers who love waterfalls, or who simply want to witness one of Japan's most impressive natural monuments away from the biggest crowds, Shomyo Falls is an essential Toyama destination — never more so than in the roaring days of the spring melt, when Japan's tallest waterfall lives fully up to its name.