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.
A spectacular, high waterfall cascading down into the basin below. There is an elevator service available for 600 yen per adult, which takes only about a minute to go up or down. There’s even an elevator operator to assist you.
The area is very convenient, with plenty of food stalls nearby offering local snacks. The parking lot is also quite large and easy to access. A must-visit spot in Nikko!
The waterfall is usually known for its powerful flow, but when I visited, the water volume was quite low—so much so that it almost felt more like a “dry Kegon Falls” than Kegon Falls.
That said, the experience is still special every time. The elevator ride down and the path leading to the base of the falls, as well as the underground passageways, all add to the atmosphere. I always feel like I gain a sense of energy just being there.
The drive from Nikkō via Irohazaka Road is also incredibly enjoyable, with constantly changing scenery along the way. On the way back, near the Akechidaira Plateau area, you can actually hear “Monkey Magic” playing—thanks to a special feature built into the road—making the drive even more fun. It’s definitely something worth experiencing.
