Kegon Falls

Kegon Falls drops 97 metres from the outlet of Lake Chūzenji into the Daiya River gorge, making it one of Japan's three great waterfalls and the most dramatic sight in the Nikkō highlands. The full face of the falls is visible from a free observation platform above; a paid elevator descends through the cliff face to a lower platform at the base, where the scale and power of the water are genuinely impressive.

The falls are fed by Lake Chūzenji, which in turn is fed by snowmelt from the surrounding peaks, and the volume is greatest in spring (May to June) and after summer rains. In winter the falls partially freeze, creating a curtain of ice over the central torrent that is spectacular in its own right. Access is from the Chūzenji-ko bus stop; the walk from the lake shore takes five minutes.

things to do sight
A story
Kegon Falls became notorious in 1903 when a 16-year-old student named Fujimura Misao leapt to his death here, leaving carved on a tree a philosophical note questioning the meaning of life. The act sparked a wave of copycat suicides at the falls over the following decades, and Kegon became associated with what the Japanese press called "Fujimura fever" — a kind of romantic despair in educated young men. Observation platforms now block close access to the lip.