Reimei Falls
Reimei Falls changes appearance depending on the amount of water in the river. When the water level is moderate, only the main waterfall to the left of the central boulder is visible. When the water rises, such as after rain, several additional cascades form around the rock, creating a wilder scene. The waterfall’s relatively gentle drop of 5 meters produces a delicate spray said to resemble mist at daybreak—hence the name reimei, which means dawn. Just up the trail from here is a grove of cedars planted in 1823 by the local daimyo lord and intended for use as construction material. Left standing, the trees now tower high above the river and provide a habitat for the Japanese giant flying squirrel (musasabi). Spots of ragged bark can be seen on the trees where the squirrels have climbed up using their sharp claws.