Explore the most popular river trails in Japan with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.
This trail is what hiking is all about. I was intimidated by the description of "experienced hikers" because I tend to minimize my experience. Yes it is challenging but I will now officially call myself experienced because it was not intimidating. However if you think hiking is mostly flat terrain or gentle inclines then this might not be for you. I missed the summit because I didn't realize I was there. When you get to the restaurant at the road, zoom in on the map, I think you need to follow the road around the curve for the view. I am disappointed I missed the view but it was definitely an excellent hike.
Absolutely perfect! Cliff jumps (15-20 ft) on the way to the waterfall. Once you’ve made it to the waterfall, a rope swing and a nice pool area for the family. Definitely doing this again.
Andrew R. on Henan River "Ta-taki Waterfall Trek
Amazing trail. Easy to get to. The water fall at the end was worth getting wet
Short hike with easy to reach waterfall. Very enjoyable as we walk along the stream to reach the waterfall.
Superb views! Easy to get to and very very beautiful! Some parts of the trails are rather narrow and the bridge youd have to cross is a bit run down but other than that super beautiful! Don't forget to study the map so you dont take a wrong turn or else youll end up somewhere completely else! Lots of views of mount fuji along the trail and the surrounding mountains!
What a lot of these reviews didn’t say is that you’re hiking in a river bed and have to scale some rocks to get to the waterfall. Make sure you wear shoes that you can climb in and get wet.
Still had a lot of fun with my husband and three year old in a carrier.
Beautiful trail and a great little workout! It's a bit steep on the way up but once you reach the peak it's an easy trek down to the Arima area. Stopped in at the Kin no Yu onsen to soak in the natural, mineral enriched waters - absolute must! Trail signage is all in Japanese with multiple forks, so make sure your GPS device or phone is charged to last the distance.
We headed out as a family to this hike. It was fantastic. The children loved it and defined it as an epic adventure!
The hike to the waterfall consists of walking along the river. It was nice to be wet the whole time until reaching the waterfall. I really enjoyed this hike. Next time I'll definitely waterproof my phone.
Great trail with amazing views and challenges. Absolutely loved it!
At the center of the North Japan Alpes. The view is very good. The last part is rock climbing and fun.
Magnificent, beautiful and unforgettable.
Beautiful trail that provides a great workout climbing. Note that there are two ascents to make it to the top. If you want to return to Kobe instead of Arima, then follow the trail along the road to the right. It will take you to the top of the cable car for a descent. There is some up and down hiking through here, but avoids the road with traffic and no road shoulder.
Loved this trail! Given the heat, having to walk through the river was so refreshing! Some areas the water was up to my hips (I'm 5'1). My husband loved the cliff jumping into the deep end almost to the end of the trail. And swimming through the waterfall was amazing. I also loved the ropes other okinawan locals put on branches to swing into the water! When we went there were a few children field trips enjoying the hike too so if your kid is adventurous, they'd love this hike for sure!
We completed this fun hike through the waters of the Henan River and visited the Ta-taki waterfall at the turn-around point. We entered the water at the corner of the parking lot, but there is another entry point if you walk up the road along the river for a bit. Overall, all four members of our group (youngest was 8 yrs old) completed the uploaded track and only required getting wet to a level of about 3-4 feet deep. There of plenty of areas that are suitable for swimming if you wish. Please read and follow all directions on the sign at the parking lot (see uploaded picture). It is especially important to stay out of the "river" during/after any rain as flash floods can occur. Overall, a very fun outing for a very hot Okinawa summer day.
Awesome trail with great chances of meeting locals that complete the trail about twice a week.
Beautiful hike that starts off casual with several miles along Azusa River without much elevation gain. After the first half it gets steeper, and the last 1 or 2 miles up to Mt.Yari itself are VERY steep with many switchbacks. The trail is well maintained with lots of signage in Japanese and English.
Getting up all the way to the peak requires scrambling, but there are ropes, chains and ladders that help. You don't have to be an experienced climber to do this, but you have to be sure-footed.
Depending on your fitness you will need at least 2 days to finish this hike; i highly recommend staying in or camping at Yarigatake Sanso, a mountain cabin at the foot of Mt. Yari. The early morning views are spectacular, you might even see Mt. Fuji on the horizon.
There are 2 other cabins with campgrounds along the way, so it's possible to turn this into a multi-day hike, maybe combining it with one of the other peaks in the area.