May 2026. A very pleasant place, especially on a hot summer day. While it was around 30°C down in Nikko, up here at the waterfalls it was a refreshing 23°C.
Since we were here at the turn of spring and summer, the waterfalls were not completely filled with water Tripadvisor, but that did not detract from their beauty at all. It was an amazing experience to watch dozens of grebes nesting right in the rock walls and hunting insects above the water spray.
Kegon Japan Guide Waterfalls are also very accessible - it is just a short walk (about 5 minutes) from the Chuzenji Onsen bus stop (bus stop no. 26). A beautiful place that I recommend not to miss!
Kegon Falls, located in Nikkō National Park, Tochigi, is one of Japan’s most beautiful waterfalls. Fed by Lake Chūzenji, the water plunges 97 meters down a massive cliff, creating a breathtaking scene surrounded by mountains and forests.
Each season reveals a different beauty of God’s creation — fresh greenery in summer, vibrant autumn colors, and magical frozen waterfalls in winter. The powerful sound of the falling water, cool mist in the air, and occasional rainbow under the sunlight make this place truly unforgettable.
Visitors can take an elevator to the observation deck below to experience the magnificence of nature up close and enjoy the peaceful scenery around the lake and mountains.
Magnificent waterfalls leading from Lake Chuzenji. We really enjoyed watching and listening to the waterfalls.
There is an elevator that leads you down to the observation deck. When we went, one of the two elevators was broken so it took some waiting before we were able to go down. Once you get to the lower level, it is a bit of a walk with some slippery stairs you need to take to get there. It was also very cold in the tunnels so definitely take a jacket. Despite the waiting and walking, it was definitely worth visiting!
Not the best time to visit when we went. The surroundings hadn’t bloomed yet — trees were still dry coming out of winter, so the scenery wasn’t at its peak.
That said, the place is still magical and impressive. Seeing the waterfall in person is amazing.
It was around 8°C and raining during our visit, so we weren’t able to explore much. There are both free and paid viewing decks. Honestly, the free one is already good enough, but paying ¥600 for the closer view isn’t a bad option if you want a better perspective.
Overall, still worth visiting — just try to time it better for the full experience.
What a beautiful waterfall! We were driving from Kinugawaonsen to Hakuba and took the longer way to stop by Kegon Falls (and other falls). There are a lot of restaurants and souvenir shops around. Also a big parking nearby. It is worth to take the elevator down to see the fall coming down. The souvenir shops in there take cash only.
