Bungo-Ono City, Oita Prefecture
Exploring Harajiri Falls A Wide Curtain of Water Beyond the Fields
At midday in July, I watched the curtain of water from the downstream side of Harajiri Falls. I’ll tell you about the bedrock formed by an eruption of Mount Aso 90,000 years ago, and the honey kabosu soft serve I had after my walk.
Read about the view from below the falls in summer and how Harajiri Falls was formed.
SummerMidday in July
A Wide Curtain of Water Beyond the Fields
A waterfall this huge, right in the middle of farmland? When I arrived at Harajiri Falls in July, I couldn’t take my eyes off the wide curtain of water. I’d imagined I’d have to hike deep into the mountains for a view like this, but it suddenly appeared on the plain. I still couldn’t quite believe it was right there; at first, I kept looking from one end of the falls to the other.
Downstream, I could get close to the rock face the water poured over. The rim stretched a long way across, with curtain after curtain of water falling from it. The falls are 120m wide and 20m tall. Being so close, I could appreciate how far the water fell before reaching the pool, and the whole waterfall looked much bigger than I’d expected.
In my white tank top and khaki skirt, I held a hand to my chest and looked up at the water. I felt the cool spray on my skin and couldn’t help smiling. From close to the water, I could see it spread across the pool below. The falls had a different kind of power from this low angle, and I couldn’t stop following the streams as they fell.
The bedrock here formed when a massive pyroclastic flow from an eruption of Mount Aso 90,000 years ago cooled and solidified. Vertical cracks called columnar joints are thought to have helped shape the falls. I never would have guessed any of that while looking at the fields nearby. My gaze shifted from the water to the rock between the streams.
After comparing the curtains of water with the rock between them, I walked around the falls. You can cross Takimi Bridge, a suspension bridge, and make a full loop around them, too. The same falls look different from each angle, and I wanted another look every time. I wanted to see how the rock face I’d looked up at from below continued around the falls. By the end of the walk, I had a much clearer picture of its shape.
On the way back, I stopped at Harajiri Falls Roadside Station for honey kabosu soft serve. As I savored a cool bite, the spray on my skin came back to me. A huge waterfall, the story of how its rocks formed, and something sweet at the end—it was a summer day full of things to enjoy. I ended up staying far longer than I’d expected.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Local specialty
Honey kabosu soft serve
The fast-food stand at Harajiri Falls Roadside Station serves its original honey kabosu soft serve. After walking around the falls, I savored a cool bite and took a moment to relax.
Highlights
A 120m-wide, 20m-tall waterfall
Harajiri Falls is one of Japan’s 100 Best Waterfalls, a broad cascade stretching across the landscape. Up close, I took in its full width before I even thought about the numbers.
Bedrock shaped by an eruption of Mount Aso
The bedrock formed when a massive pyroclastic flow from an eruption of Mount Aso 90,000 years ago cooled and solidified. Vertical cracks known as columnar joints are thought to have helped shape the falls. Now I had even more to admire in the rocks between the streams.
Road information
Around Harajiri Falls
Park at Harajiri Falls Roadside Station, then walk over to the falls. I took in the full breadth of the waterfall from the downstream side.
You can walk a full loop around the falls, crossing Takimi Bridge along the way. After looking up at the falls from below, I wanted to see them from another angle.
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