Mitsudaki Falls
Mitsudaki Falls is a three-tiered waterfall in Hida-Osaka in northern Gero. As water passes over the falls, it drops a total of 22 meters. The middle tier has the largest drop of 11 meters. In a rock face beside the middle tier, there is an alcove with a statue of Fudo Myoo, a Buddhist deity worshiped by Shugendo mountain ascetics. According to folk legend, the famed Buddhist monk and sculptor Enku (1632–1695) once meditated here. The alcove is named “meditation rock” (Zazen-iwa).
Mitsudaki is one of several scenic spots on a 5-kilometer loop trail through terrain shaped by lava flows some 54,000 years ago. The trail begins and ends at Gandate Park and passes basalt formations and numerous waterfalls. It takes 10 minutes to reach Mitsudaki from the park. The full route takes around 3 hours to complete.