Kegon Waterfall, Japan
janaline's world journey

Japan’s Eerie and mist shrouded Kegon Waterfall hidden in Nikko’s mountains

The mountain Forest was thick with white mist
The mountain Forest was thick with white mist

While living in Tokyo I heard from many people that I couldn’t visit Nikko and not explore the mountain area around Nikko.

The bus traveled up the winding road of Route 120 further into the mist covered mountains and I got peaks at waterfalls and rivers down below. It is not a ride I would recommend to anybody who gets car sick easily as the bus is constantly swerving as it makes its way up the winding narrow road. I definitely understood then why this was called the winding road of 100 turns.

The surrounding forests were shrouded in mist wich definitely gave the place an Eerie feel.

The mist was so thick that we couldnt go up the mountain in the cable car
The mist was so thick that we couldn’t go up the mountain in the cable car

A photo doesn’t have to be blatantly macabre to be eerie. But it can have a mysterious, otherworldly vibe — the viewer wonders what lurks in the shadows. Something eerie has a story to tell — one you aren’t quite sure you want to know.….

The mist was so thick that at times I couldnt see more that a meter in front of me. This thick shroud of mist over Lake Chuzenji crested an eerie atmosphere. Seeing as eerie means mysterious, strange, or unexpected as to send a chill up the spine  it is perfect to describe the day.

Looking down at the tallest waterfall in Japan!!
Looking down at the tallest waterfall in Japan!!
Had to go down stairways, through tunnels and down a lift to get to the bottom of the gorge
Had to go down stairways, through tunnels and down a lift to get to the bottom of the gorge

A short walk up the mist covered road of  Lake Chuzenji I reached Kegon Waterfall, the tallest waterfall in Japan. It was covered in mist and looked like something out of a fairy tale. The lift goes 100m down into the gorge with the temperatures dropping all the way down.

It feels quite strange travelling that far down and then having to emerge out of the mountain and still be above the river.  Here at the bottom of the gorge was viewing platform and I got to see the waterfall from below.

Keagon Waterfall from the viewing platform in the gorge
Kegon Waterfall from the viewing platform in the gorge

From below the mist covered gorge you would be excused if you thought you were cut off from civilization and in a world of mystery. The place was quite deserted due to the thick mist which just added to the eerie feeling of being separated from reality.

The Yudaki Falls up the mountain
The Yudaki Falls up the mountain

The bus took the winding roads even higher up into the mountain, crossing over the Yukawa River and passing the Yudaki Falls. Here I got off the bus to relax with a hot coffee next to the waterfall.

Arriving at Lake Yunoko
Arriving at Lake Yunoko

Further north we stopped at Lake Yunoko an area filled with “onsen” hot springs.

A hot spring where you can rest your tired feet!
A hot spring where you can rest your tired feet!

There were some hot springs along the path that were free like this one where you can come and rest your tired feet after exploring the surrounding countryside!

 

The Onsen - Hot Spring!!
The Onsen – Hot Spring!!

I got a Nikko and area tourist brochure beforehand because they had some discount vouchers for most of the onsens in the area attached to the brochure. After walking around the lake area I spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in an Onsen with a book before heading back to Nikko. It was fabulous, the place was so deserted that I was all alone in the hot spring!

 

43 comments

    • It was the first time I came across such a hot spring foot bath and after chuckling about some of the instructions also relaxed my tired feet. Thed Onsen as I understand it is the hot spring where you climb in with your whole body…..but I could be wrong here.

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  19. Thank you for sharing your adventure…the shots were spectacular. Amazing system to get to the bottom of the gorge, like taking and elevator to the bottom of the Grand Canyon…wow !

    Rtk

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    • Yes it was an amazing adventure!! I was very thankful for the elevator, was really scared that I would have to climb hundreds of stairs to the bottom to be able to admire the waterfall!!

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