Fukuroda Falls
袋田の滝
A famous waterfall in Daigo, Ibaraki, tumbling in four tiers down a rock face 120 m high and 73 m wide, with fresh greenery, autumn colour and, in winter, ice.
The "four-times falls", dropping in four tiers
Fukuroda Falls is in the town of Daigo in northern Ibaraki Prefecture. The water drops in four separate tiers down a huge rock face 120 m high and 73 m wide. It is sometimes counted, along with Kegon Falls (Tochigi Prefecture) and Nachi Falls (Wakayama Prefecture), as one of Japan's three great waterfalls.
Its other name is Yodo-no-taki, the "four-times falls". Some say this is because it falls down the rock face in four tiers; others say it comes from the Heian-period monk Saigyo, who visited and praised it, saying that you cannot truly appreciate this waterfall unless you come once in each of the four seasons. In 2015 it was designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty together with Namaze Falls, further upstream.
Two viewing platforms beyond the tunnel
To see the falls, you go through the Fukuroda Falls Tunnel, which charges an entry fee. From the kanbakudai (a viewing platform for looking at a waterfall) at the far end of the tunnel, you can see the falls up close.
A lift at the back of the tunnel takes you about 50 m up to the Second Viewing Platform, built in 2008. It has three decks, and from here you can take in the whole waterfall as it tumbles down its four tiers. There is also a passage from inside the tunnel across to a suspension bridge, and a mountain path beyond it leads on to Namaze Falls.
Enjoying each season
Just as Saigyo said, the falls change their look dramatically with the seasons: melting snow in spring, rainbows in summer, autumn leaves in autumn, and in winter you may see a hyobaku, a "frozen waterfall" when the falls turn white with ice. However, in recent years it has become rare for it to get cold enough for the whole waterfall to freeze.
At night there is also an event called Daigo Light, when the falls are lit up. Check the Daigo Town Tourism Association website for dates and times.
Getting there
The nearest station is Fukuroda Station on the JR Suigun Line, and from there a local bus takes you close to the entrance to the falls. The tunnel's opening hours and fees may change with the season, so check the Daigo Town Tourism Association website.
Tips
- The Daigo Town Tourism Association website posts the day's temperature and water level at the falls. Take a look before you set off.
- For a view of the whole waterfall, go to the Second Viewing Platform. To feel how close the falls are, go to the First Viewing Platform at the end of the tunnel. Visiting both is recommended.
- The frozen waterfall is not guaranteed every year. If you are going in winter, check the tourism association's latest information before you go.
Sources
Updated 28 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
