Ryūmon Falls

Overview

Ryūmon Falls is a waterfall located in Nasukarasuyama City, Tochigi Prefecture. It's situated on the Egagawa River, a tributary of the Nakagawa River, boasting a width of approximately 65 meters and a drop of about 20 meters. Legend says that Rankei Dōryū, a monk who came to Japan from Southern Song Dynasty China during the Kamakura period and spread Rinzai Zen Buddhism, named the falls after the similar Ryūmon Falls in Henan Prefecture. It's also known for its beautiful scenery, especially the fresh green leaves in spring and vibrant autumn foliage. At the entrance to the falls is the Ryūmon Furusato Mingei-kan (Ryūmon Local Folk Craft Museum). Stairs lead down to the base of the falls, but be careful of the fine spray. Midway down the falls are two potholes called Onnagama (Woman's Cauldron) and Otoko-gama (Man's Cauldron), named after a legend of a giant serpent that once inhabited them. From mid-to-late November, you can even witness salmon migrating upstream. The JR Utsunomiya Line runs above the falls, making it a fantastic photo spot, especially in spring when you can capture a single image with the train, the falls, and cherry blossoms. A three-minute walk from Ryūmon Falls brings you to Taiheiji Temple, where the grave of the princess who served as the model for Kawaguchi Matsuta’s novel "Snake Princess" is located.