Harajiri Falls in Oita Prefecture

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Facts & Figures

Harajiri Falls (Harajiri-no-taki), located on the vast Ogata Plains within the Oita prefecture, is one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls picked by the Ministry of the Environment. The beautiful horseshoe-shaped waterfalls are 120 meters wide with a height of 20 meters. Because of this shape, it received the nickname Niagara Falls of Japan. The falls are located on the Ogata River, a tributary of the Ono River. You will get the best views of the area from the 90-meter-long wooden suspension bridge (Takimi-bashi) nearby. To get an extra thrill the bridge is swaying a bit when you cross it :) You can also follow a nice walking path which leads along the riverbank and back to the falls. Since 2004 I have traveled nearly every year to Japan. The rail pass made my life easier to discover all those amazing places in my favorite country.
 Get Your Pass Now and Save! > Unfortunately, swimming in the water basin below the falls is not allowed. The area is a very popular tourist destination throughout the year. Do not miss the great festivals, like the Oita Ogata Tulip Festival in April, Kodai Himatsuri Festival in May, and Kawagoshi Matsuri in November. My tip: Try out local specialties, like Dango Jiru (dumpling soup), at the restaurant in the Harajiri Falls rest area near the falls' entrance. They also have a huge farmers market with a nice variety of local-grown products, ice cream, souvenirs, and more.

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History

Harajira Falls came into existence by a huge volcanic eruption of the 1592m high Mount Aso approximately 90000 years ago. The rock underneath the water is called Aso ignimbrite, formed by pyroclasts from Mt. Aso. The ignimbrite had long vertical cracks, which over time collapsed and created amazing cliffs and waterfalls.

Sightseeing spots nearby Harajiri Falls

Top:

Michi-no-eki Harajiri-no-Taki - You will find close to the entrance of the waterfall area a Japanese-style roadside service station, where you can try out local specialties like the famous Dango Jiru (dumpling soup) or the Kabosu soft-serve ice cream.

Harajiri Bridge - This stone bridge is just 500m away from the falls. The bridge with a length of 73m was constructed in 1923 and consists of 5 arches.

Ninomiya Hachiman Shrine - The shrine was built during the Heian Period (794 - 1185) and is over 800 years old. Koreyoshi Ogata, a famous local samurai, gave the order for the construction.

Nabegataki Falls - One of the most beautiful waterfalls on Kyushu Island. The height of the falls is 10m and the width is 20m.

Kokonoe Yume Otsurihashi Bridge - It is the highest suspension bridge in Japan only for pedestrians. The bridge was opened to the public in 2006 and has a length of 390m and a height of 173m. The panoramic views from the top are amazing.

Ogata Shimoiro - This water channel is located just above the Harajira Falls. The water from the Ogata River is used to irrigate the huge plain (Ogata Gosengoku), known for rice cultivation.

Festival & Events in Ogata (dates can change without notice)

April

Oita Ogata Tulip Festival (third Sunday of April)
Enjoy the blooming of more than 400000 colorful tulips, representing over 100 species. Over 100000 people enjoy this festival every year to see the beautiful scenery. Ogata-machi is located in Bungo Ono city of Oita.

August

Kodai Himatsuri Festival (14th)
The Kodai Himatsuri Festival dates back to 1753 (Edo period) and was created to pray for a successful harvest. During this annual event, more than 13000 torches will be lit near the Harajira Falls. After 7:30 pm the scenery becomes truly mesmerising.

November

Kawagoshi Matsuri Festival (18th)
Every year in November dozens of men of the village in Fundoshi (traditional underwear) carry a portable Shinto shrine (mikoshi) across the freezing cold waters of the Ogata River. The ceremony dates back nearly 800 years and is held just above the mouth of the waterfall. The mikoshi is also carried through a large stone torii gate, which belongs to the second shrine (Ninomiya Hachiman Shrine) of the Three Shrines of Ogata, which are Ninomiya Hachiman Shrine, Ichinomiya Hachiman Shrine, and Sannomiya Hachiman Shrine.