Shiramizu Falls 白水滝 - Taketa
Shiramizu falls in Ogimachi, Taketa is a beautiful waterfall walk only a 30 minute drive from Takamori Town in Aso. It is a little known spot but definitely worth a visit. In the summer it’s a perfect place to escape the heat & even though you can’t get up really close to the falls, the spray is so refreshing and there’s a great restaurant specialising in local dishes.
Getting to Shiramizu Falls
There are several Shiramizu Falls around in Kyushu so to avoid confusuion put 陽目の里キャンピングパーク (Hinatamenosato Camping Park) into your navigation and head there, if you are coming from Taketa town in Oita it would take around 35 minutes. and about an hour from Takachiho.
You can park for free at the Hinatamenosato campsite. The campsite is on the other side of the river but to head to the falls stay on the carpark side and take the path behind the restaurant. It’s a pleasant 600m walk to the main falls, the first half is flat walking along the riverside, then you start to go uphill along a path of shallow steps. As you walk along you pass spring water gushing from the rocks and a couple of smaller waterfalls. The main falls are dramatic, with water cascading over a long cliff of volcanic rock.
Very off the beaten path, this is definitely a place that deserves to be better known. There are lots of maple trees so I am sure it’s gorgeous in the autumn, but possibly difficult to access in the winter, the restaurant staff told me they are closed from January through to March.
Hinatamenosato restaurant
Don’t leave without visiting the restaurant 陽目の里名水茶屋, I enjoyed a delicious and very reasonably priced lunch of salt grilled river fish, with a range of side dishes, mini udon and kakitome rice. There’s also a nagashi soumen place (chilled noodles flowing in spring water that you have to catch to eat) next door which is only open in the summer.
The campsite on the opposite side of the river looks well cared for, very peaceful and also has bungalow accommodation available. There were signs that river fishing is possible there too.
Shiramizu Falls Access Information
- Free Entrance
- Large free car park
- 09:00 to 17:00
- Restaurant open March to December
- camp
