Naena Falls, Natural waterfall in Myoko, Japan.
Naena Falls drops in a narrow, slightly spreading white sheet from a notch between two high rock walls, one rising on the left and one on the right. The water falls vertically down a dark andesite face, breaking into mist and spray toward the bottom, where large boulders and broken dark stones sit at the base. It is the first of four cascades on the upper Seki River, and the second, third and fourth falls are difficult to reach.
The waterfall received recognition from Japan's Ministry of Environment for its natural and geological value. This official selection placed it among the nation's important water sites.
The name Naena comes from the roar of the falling water, likened to an earthquake (nai), which became 'Naino Falls' and then 'Naena Falls'. Another account links the name to the falls supplying water to rice paddies on the Takada Plain. The start of the flow, together with the cow-shaped snow patch on Mount Myōkō, has traditionally marked the beginning of rice planting.
The falls lie about 8 km west of Myōkō-Kōgen Station; a municipal bus runs there but requires a transfer inside the Myōkō-Kōgen onsen area. By car, leave the Myōkō-Kōgen interchange on Route 39 toward Sasagamine for 4 km, turn left at the Naena Falls entrance and continue 2 km to the car park. Only the first of the four drops is easy to reach; the second, third and fourth are hard to access.
The name Naena comes from the roar of the falling water, likened to an earthquake (nai); in colloquial speech this became "Naino Falls" and then Naena. The falls are also called Jishin Falls, meaning earthquake, and are one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls.
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