Yudaki Falls

Yudaki Falls marks the upper end of Nikko's great chain of highland water features. Here the waters of Lake Yunoko spill directly over a lava cliff and drop about 70 metres in a wide, fan-shaped cascade before gathering into the Yukawa River, which then flows down through the Senjogahara marshland toward Lake Chuzenji far below. Because you can stand at both the top and the bottom, Yudaki gives an unusually clear sense of how Okunikko's lakes, rivers and waterfalls all link together.

The setting is deep in the mountains at around 1,470 metres, wrapped in larch and broadleaf forest. The falls broaden as they descend, sliding over a rough rock face rather than free-falling, which gives them a soft, textured appearance quite different from the sheer drop of Kegon. In autumn the surrounding trees flare into red and gold, and the pale sheet of water against the colour is a favourite photograph. In summer the shaded, cool air makes the short walk a refreshing break, and the highland location keeps the whole area pleasant when the lowlands swelter.

An observation deck sits at the base, reached by a brief, easy path from the bus stop and car park, and a seasonal teahouse nearby serves grilled fish and snacks. For a fuller experience, a stepped trail climbs alongside the falls to the top, where it emerges at the southern shore of Lake Yunoko - a small, tranquil crater lake famous for its calm reflections and lakeside walking loop. Standing there you can watch the lake's surface slip over the edge and become the falls, a memorable transition.

Yudaki is best enjoyed as part of the classic Okunikko walk. It lies near Yumoto Onsen, the hot-spring village at the top of the valley, and forms the upper anchor of the Senjogahara boardwalk route that runs down to Ryuzu Falls and Lake Chuzenji. Many visitors ride the bus to the top, stroll around Lake Yunoko, descend past Yudaki, then follow the level marsh boardwalks downhill for a rewarding half-day of walking that is scenic but not strenuous.

The whole area sits within Nikko National Park, a volcanic landscape shaped by the eruptions of Mount Nantai and prized for its wetlands, lakes and forest. Yudaki pairs naturally with Lake Yunoko and Yumoto Onsen just above, and with Senjogahara, Ryuzu Falls and Lake Chuzenji below.

To get there, take a Tobu bus from Tobu-Nikko Station bound for Yumoto Onsen. The ride climbs past Lake Chuzenji and the marshland and takes around 75 minutes; alight at the Yudaki Iriguchi stop, from where the base observation deck is a five-minute forest walk. Drivers will find a car park nearby. Winter brings heavy snow to this altitude, so late spring through autumn is the reliable window, with October the standout for colour.