In this guide
Nachi Falls (Nachi-no-Otaki) 那智の滝
Nachi Falls, also called Nachi-no-Otaki, is a waterfall 133 meters high and 13 meters wide. It is Japan’s tallest and largest vertical-drop waterfall, and can be seen from far out on the Pacific Ocean. The falls are also part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The water source of Nachi Falls is the surrounding broad-leaf evergreen primeval forest. As a sanctuary of Kumano Nachi Taisha, it has been protected since ancient times and used for ascetic training by mountain monks who practice Shugendo, a syncretic faith blending foreign and indigenous beliefs.
More than a scene of natural beauty, the falls are worshipped as the dwelling place of a Shinto deity. The thunderous sound of a ton of water plunging down every second offers a powerful spiritual experience for believers and non-believers alike.
General Information
- Address: Nachisan, Nachikatsuura, Higashimuro District, Wakayama , Japan
- Telephone: 735-55-0321
- Opening hours: 07:00–16:30
Ease of Access
From Wakayama’s Kii-Katsuura Station, take the bus for about 30 minutes to Nachi-no-Taki-mae. From there, it is about a 5-minute walk.
Location
Located in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama, Nachi Falls is considered one of Japan’s premier waterfalls to visit, alongside Kegon Falls in the Tochigi region and Fukuroda Falls in the Ibaraki region.
Nachi Falls and Seigantoji Temple share the same site as Kumano Nachi Taisha, a popular shrine and one of the main destinations for those walking the long pilgrimage routes of the Kumano Kodo.
God of the Falls
Long before religious doctrine was formalized, local people worshipped the falls as the home of a spiritual deity. A shrine was later built here, and shrine priests serve the deity daily. The zigzag paper streamers known as shide at the waterfall mark the sacred presence of a Shinto deity.
Water Worship
Be sure to include a short visit to Hiro Shrine, located at the foot of the falls amid old cedar trees. Built in honor of the waterfall deity, entry to the shrine is free, but it costs 300 yen to step onto the viewing platform.
Nachi-no-Hi Matsuri Fire Festival
Nachi-no-Hi Matsuri is the main festival of Kumano Nachi Taisha. In this fire festival, 6-meter-high portable shrines—symbolically representing the waterfall—are purified with fire from oversized torches carried with great effort by men dressed in white.
