Daisen Falls
Revered in ancient times as the dwelling of a Shinto deity, Daisen Falls is the paramount waterfall on Mt. Daisen. Its headwaters flow from the Tengugamine and Karasugasen peaks, which flow together to form the Kasechi River. Measuring 4 meters across and plunging a total of 42 meters, the waterfall has two drops: an upper section of 28 meters, and the lower of 14 meters. The break between them is caused by a particularly resilient layer of volcanic rock that has withstood erosion.
Prior to 1934, Daisen Falls also had a third drop. The Muroto Typhoon of that year, one of the most deadliest storms ever to hit Japan, resulted in such torrential floods that one of the breaks collapsed, leaving the waterfall as it appears today. At the foot of Daisen Falls, the Kasechi River forms a clear pool before flowing down into the steep gorge known as Jigoku Valley. This spot has attracted weary travelers as far back as the Heian period (794–1185), when priests regularly journeyed between Daisenji Temple and the Shugendō temple on Mt. Mitoku.
In 1990, Daisen Falls was designated one of the top 100 waterfalls in Japan by the Japanese government. Today, it is a popular destination along the Chūgoku Nature Trail, just a 2-kilometer hike from the Ikkōganaru Campground.