48 Waterfalls of Nachi, Sacred waterfall site in Nachikatsuura, Japan.

The 48 Waterfalls of Nachi are 48 named cascades among more than 60 falls in the Nachi Primeval Forest, distributed across four valleys: Motodani, Higashi-no-tani, Nishi-no-tani and Shinkyaku-dani. The first is Nachi-no-taki (Nachi Falls), followed by numbered falls such as Sono-i-no-taki and Nachi-ni-no-taki. The 48th, Naijin-no-taki, is not a physical waterfall but an inner contemplation for each practitioner.

The Fuso Ryakki records that the monk Jozo performed ascetic practice under these falls in 907. Later, the Kumano Sanryaku-ki names the seven Nachi waterfalls and credits the seven sages of Nachi with thousand-day retreats. From the medieval to the early modern period, ascetics came from across Japan. The Meiji separation of Shinto and Buddhism ended the practice, and the falls' identities were only re-established in 1991 by a team led by Takagi Ryoei.

The place has been a center of worship for centuries, drawing believers who see sacred power in the falling water. The combination of temple buildings and shrine structures shapes the site's appearance today.

Access is through simple trails in the forest area, with some sections becoming slippery, especially after rain. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and allow enough time to explore multiple cascades.

The 48th waterfall, called Naijin no Taki, is not a physical cascade: practitioners treat it as something each pilgrim must contemplate inwardly. The list of 48 was reconstructed in 1991 by a team led by Takagi Ryōei, abbot of Seiganto-ji, using Inada Beika's 1931 picture scroll of the falls.