Nijimi Falls
Nijimi (Rainbow View) Falls is one of the highlights on the Ryuokyo Valley nature trail. It is visible from several angles along the promenade that links the trail to Goryuo Shrine. The waterfall’s name comes from the vivid rainbow that frequently appears in its spray, particularly on sunny mornings. The powerful cascade tumbles 20 meters to the river below. Nijimi Falls is categorized as a “hanging valley,” a specific type of shallow canyon that forms over a larger one. The rock at the top of the waterfall is hornblende-bearing volcanic rock; hornblende is a complex mix of minerals that is much harder and erodes much slower than the rhyolite that makes up the base of the cliff below, creating an overhang.