Nachi Waterfall (那智滝 – Nachi no Taki), located in the Nachikatsuura district of Wakayama Prefecture, is one of the most well-known waterfalls in Japan.
With a drop of 133 meters, 13 meters wide and 10 meters deep, it is the highest waterfall in the country with a unique uninterrupted fall. There are two rocks at the top that are the guardians of the waterfall and the Shinto shrine on the site.
Much more than just a backdrop of natural beauty, the waterfall falls are worshiped as the home of a Shinto deity. The thundering sound of an enormous volume of water every second will provide anyone with a spiritual experience, where every morning the shrine’s Shinto priests make offerings to the waterfall in a silent ritual.
The visit to the waterfall and the shrine is free and inside the shrine there is an observation deck for the waterfall, but you need to pay 300 yen to venture to the observation deck.
In 1918, the sutra mound was excavated at the base of the waterfall and many important archaeological artifacts were found, including statues, mirrors, altars and sutra cylinders.
Visiting hours: from 7:00 to 16:30 hr.
Waterfall History
Long before the organization of religious doctrine, locals loved the waterfall falls as being home to a spiritual deity. Later, a shrine was built, and the shrine’s priests serve the deity daily. The zigzag paper curtains, known as shide, hanging from the waterfall, mark the sacred presence of a Shinto deity.
Brazilians in Japan
Wakayama-ken Higashimuro Nachikatsuura Nachisan