Yoro Falls

Hello all, I have not written a blog post for about 3.5 years. I got busy with other social networking sites and a lot of procrastination. I created a new blog and am connecting the older blog URL on the side bar. Hope I will keep posting somewhat regularly in this blog.

On 7th August, hubby and I visited Yoro Falls in Yoro Park located in Yoro town of Gifu prefecture. The waterfall is considered to be one of the top hundred most beautiful waterfalls of Japan. The water from the falls is well known for its high quality. Legend has it that in the 8th century, a poor lumberjack offered the water, which tasted like Sake to his ailing father. The father was miraculously revived upon drinking it. This incidence was reported to Empress Gensho in Nara city, which was the capital of Japan at that time. The Empress visited the falls, drank the water, and was also cured of an illness. Thereupon she changed the name of the era to ‘Yoro’ which means ‘supporting old age’, and this waterfall has been called ‘Yoro’ Falls since then.

From the parking lot located at the foot of Yoro Park, we had to climb a hillside trail for about 850 meters to reach the waterfall. Due to the steep slopes and making stops to take pictures, the hike to the falls took about one hour. We loved the beautiful serene nature and the clear water of the falls.

Near the parking lot we saw the beautiful Taki Valley in Yoro Park on the downstream part of Yoro Falls. The faraway mountains looked wonderful.

Another view of Taki Valley and nature.

Beautiful view along the trail to the falls

While walking uphill along the trail, we saw water (from the fall) tumbling down rocky slopes, creating smaller falls along the way. We enjoyed seeing the wonderful natural landscape.

A path running through the beautiful nature

After walking uphill along the trail for about 30 minutes, we reached midway along the path to the waterfall. It was so beautiful all around us.

We started seeing the waterfall after a further 20 minutes walk along the trail. I am standing at the upstream part of Yoro Falls. The waterfall is seen in the background.

Hubby enjoying the scenery

The waterfall

The waterfall and I

A further ten minutes walk uphill led us to the nearest point of the waterfall. Two sacred stones encircled by Shimenawa (sacred Shinto ropes) sit near the base of the falls, marking it as a sacred space. I stood beside the stones to get a photo clicked.

The waterfall and I

Yoro Falls consists of a single bridal-veil column that free falls into a sacred pool below. The waterfall is 32 meters high and 4 meters wide. We loved listening to the splash of the elegant stream of water falling from the woods above to the pool below.

The crystal-clear waterfall is definitely a sight to behold, as is the breathtaking beauty of the green surrounding nature during summer.

Next to the falls, we saw a stone statue named ‘Taki Fudoson’. It is a Buddhist statue of ferocious ‘Fudo Myo-o’ (Achal Vidyaraja in Hindi, Sanskrit) who is supposed to protect the falls and the valley from any evil.

Nearby we saw a Shinto religion based area where we can write our wishes on an Ema votive and tie it to a string.

It was a very hot and humid day and my mind was completely blank to think of any wishes. So I just prayed for the peace and happiness for all.

After enjoying Yoro Falls and the wonderful natural surroundings, we started on our way downhill towards the car parking area. Midway, about 0.5 kilometers downstream of the falls, we saw a Shinto shrine named Kotohira Jinja. This is the stone Torii Gate and steps leading to the shrine.

Kotohira Jinja Shrine is quite small where the deity of navigation and safe voyage is enshrined.

A gourd shaped Temizuya and a ladle to wash our hands before entering the shrine.

Adjacent to Kotohira Jinja Shrine, to its east, we saw a bigger Shinto shrine named Yoro Jinja. The actual year of its construction is unknown but is thought to have been built during the Yoro era of Nara period. The shrine was known as Yoro Myojin those days. The name was changed to Yoro Tenjin in 1504, and the present name was given only during the Meiji period. Various deities like Kukurihime no Kami, Sugawara no Michizane, Empress Gensho, and Emperor Shomu are enshrined inside the Main Hall. Because hubby is a Shinto priest, we enjoy knowing the details about the shrines we visit. In this photo I am standing near a stone Torii Gate of Yoro Jinja Shrine.

I am ringing the bell located in front of Haiden Worship Hall of Yoro Jinja Shrine.

Haiden Worship Hall in the front and Honden Main Hall in the back as viewed from the west side.

These Steps and huge trees lead to Yoro Jinja Shrine premises. We are supposed to enter the shrine premises climbing these steps. Instead we entered from Torii Gate side and walked down via these steps.

We had a wonderful time seeing the falls and the shrines in Yoro Park.