Tokushima’s best waterfalls in one weekend

If waterfalls were tastes; Shikoku’s waterfalls would be umami. Yes, Shikoku has all of the usual ingredients that make a waterfall great: clear water.. check, mountains.. check, deciduous trees.. check, rocks and mosses.. check.

But there’s something else that Shikoku has that sets it apart. Is it the history? The legends? The ambience? The remoteness? Or is it the Shinto/Buddhist connection? I can’t quite put my finger on it. But whatever it is, it’s good, like umami.

Visit them all in a weekend

We recently visited four of the best waterfalls in Shikoku on one road trip. This route starts from the Kochi side of Shikoku (south), where we live, if you’re coming from Tokushima (north) just start from the bottom.

1. Todoroki-no-taki

First, we visited Todoro-no-taki, Tokushima 轟の滝 (not to be confused with the waterfall of the same name in Kochi). Each year this waterfall hosts an interesting celebration. White-cladded men carry a large shrine on their shoulders through a gap in the waterfall’s rocks. It looks like a challenge.

This waterfall clearly holds a special importance to the locals and is surrounded by temples and shrines.

When we arrived at Todoroki Falls we found people praying inside the waterfall/shrine so we didn’t actually venture inside as we didn’t want to disturb anyone. Instead we followed a track that takes you up and around the waterfall and past another 3 or 4 impressive falls. The walk takes up to 50 minutes depending on how far you want to go.

2. Otodoro-no-taki

The next day we visited Otodoro-no-taki 大轟の滝 in Naka-cho, Tokushima. Follow the road along the lakes and river-side and you’ll be taken straight past it.

Otodoro Falls: Hiking is not necessary but there is an old path that goes up past the waterfall, some picnic tables, and around to the top. Access to this waterfall for swimming would be quite difficult.

2. Ogama-no-taki

We continued up the steep winding road towards Ogama Falls 大釜の滝 which is a short 15 minute drive away. This waterfall is loud and powerful and there is a path that takes you down to the bottom. The rocks are a bit slippery and hard to scramble across but there are a few pools downstream where you could swim if you wanted.

Ogama Falls is as loud as is it impressive

That evening we stayed at the nearby Shikibidani Onsen. The room’s were really nice, the food was great, and the whole experience was really positive (the price was good, too).

4. Amagoi Waterfall 雨乞の滝

Finally, we headed north to the increasingly famous Kamiyama (try the brewery). Just outside of town is Amagoi waterfall which is one of Japan’s top 100. The falls are a two-tiered “couple” waterfall featuring a 27-meter male fall and a 45-meter female fall.