Minoh Otaki Waterfall

Known as “the most famous waterfall in the world,” this waterfall has been selected as one of the “100 best waterfalls in Japan. With a width of 5 meters and a drop of 33 meters, it is a dynamic sight to see the water cascading down from the cliff at once.

The name “Minoh” comes from the resemblance of the falling water between the trees to a “wino,” a farming tool, and is said to be the origin of the name of the area.

The beautiful nature around Otaki Falls is beautiful in spring with fresh green maple trees, a cool spot in summer, and a popular snow-covered waterfall in winter.

Autumn is especially popular for its autumn foliage, which attracts a large number of visitors. The blazing red autumn leaves make the falls even more beautiful.

Minoh Great Falls is located in the Meiji-no-mori Minoh National Park, a scenic nature park spreading over mountainous terrain. The valley weaves through the forest from the magnificent Minoh Falls, and the area is home to as many as 980 species of plants and over 3,000 species of insects.

Mt. Minoh has long been a sacred place for mountain Buddhism, and in the old days it was a center for Shugendo. There are several old temples such as Takian-ji Temple (Minoh-ji Temple), the fundamental center of Shugendo, which was founded by En no Gyoja.

The Insectarium, located on the road on the way to the waterfall, has nearly 10,000 insect specimens, as well as a large greenhouse and butterfly garden with more than 200 butterflies of about 30 species flying around, allowing visitors to observe their ecology throughout the four seasons.