Yonakodaibakufu (Yonako Great Waterfall)

Overview

Yonakodaibakufu, located in Yonaco, Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, is a nationally designated place of scenic beauty and one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls. This awe-inspiring site features two waterfalls, Gongen-taki and Fudo-taki, which plunge down the valley cutting through the caldera of Shiau Mountain. Their grandeur captivates visitors from all over. Gongen-taki boasts an 82-meter drop, while Fudo-taki plunges 89 meters. The presence of two waterfalls with such significant drops is exceptionally rare in Japan. Surrounded by lush nature, the area is equipped with well-maintained walking paths, allowing visitors to leisurely enjoy the magnificent scenery. At the base of the falls, you'll find the Yonako Fudo-son Kaisanchi Oku-no-in Hondō, a temple where the principal image of Fudo Myōō (Acala) and the waterfalls themselves are revered as sacred objects. This building, a designated tangible cultural property of Suzaka City, rebuilt in the mid-Edo period, offers a glimpse into history. Historically, Fudo-taki served as a site for purification rituals and is a renowned sacred site for mountain asceticism throughout Japan. White Mountain faith began here in 718 AD, with the leading disciple of Taicho Daishi, Kiyosa (浄定), and prominent figures like Gyōki also visited. Legend has it that during the return journey after the fourth Battle of Kawanakajima, Uesugi Kenshin, the Kanto Kanryo-shoku (Kanto Governor), enshrined his personal Buddha in the current Yonako Fudo-son Kaisanchi Oku-no-in Hondō, which was then located at the base of the falls, praying for the peace and protection of the Kanto people and the Hōjō clan (Ujiyasu and Ujimasa). Yonako Fudo-son retains strong features of the Kogi Shingon sect. On the opposite bank lies the Kichimyōzan-hei ruins, where Tanchō Shōnin, a disciple of Mokujiki Gyō, performed Mokujiki practices (consuming only uncooked food). The two waterfalls, along with the principal image of Fudo Myōō, are considered sacred objects. Fudo-taki is also known as "Byakuryu-no-taki" (White Dragon Waterfall), and Gongen-taki as "Kokuryu-no-taki" (Black Dragon Waterfall). Together, they are also called "Sōryū-no-taki" (Double Dragon Waterfall). Yonakodaibakufu is a captivating tourist spot where you can experience both the grandeur of nature and a rich history. Be sure to visit!