Kegon Falls
華厳滝
Oku-Nikko's famous waterfall, where Lake Chuzenji plunges about 97m down a sheer cliff. Take the lift down to the viewing platform and feel its power up close.
A 97m waterfall pouring out of Lake Chuzenji
Kegon Falls (Kegon no Taki) is a waterfall in Oku-Nikko, in the city of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Water overflowing from Lake Chuzenji drops straight down a cliff about 97m high. It is counted as one of Japan's three great waterfalls, alongside Fukuroda Falls (Ibaraki Prefecture) and Nachi Falls (Wakayama Prefecture).
It is said to have been discovered by the monk Shodo Shonin, credited with founding Nikko, who named it after the Kegon Sutra, a Buddhist scripture.
The "Twelve Falls" around the main cascade
Look closely and you will see many thin streams pouring from the rock face around the main flow. They are formed by water from Lake Chuzenji seeping through gaps in the rock, and are called the Juni-taki ("Twelve Falls").
The volume of water in the falls is controlled by the Chuzenji Dam upstream.
Down by lift to the viewing platform
To see the falls head-on, take the paid Kegon Falls Elevator about 100m down through the bedrock to the kanbakudai (a viewing platform for watching a waterfall). After leaving the lift there are a few more steps down. From the platform the plunge pool is close by, and you can feel the power of the spray and the roar with your whole body.
Each season has its own highlights. According to Nikko city's tourism website, May brings fresh green leaves, in June large numbers of house martins swoop around the falls, and in January and February the smaller falls around it freeze into blue ice.
Getting there
From JR Nikko Station or Tobu-Nikko Station, take a bus bound for Chuzenji Onsen, about 50 minutes. From the Chuzenji Onsen bus stop at the end of the line, it is about a 5-minute walk. By car, it is about 20 minutes from the Kiyotaki interchange on the Nikko-Utsunomiya Road.
The lift's opening hours and fares change with the seasons, so check them on the official website.
Tips
- The lift may be suspended in bad weather. If a storm looks likely, check before you set out.
- In winter it gets cold enough for the surrounding falls to freeze. If you visit then, wrap up warmly.
- Lake Chuzenji is right next to the falls. Combine the falls with a walk along the lakeshore to enjoy more of Oku-Nikko's nature.
Sources
Updated 28 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
