Nabe Falls, Waterfall in Oguni, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

Nabe Falls is a waterfall in Oguni, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It drops 9 metres in a single unbroken curtain about 20 metres wide from a nearly level crest, screening the dark rock behind it. The water meets a greenish pool, and boulders with plants sit at the lower right. A path leads behind the fall.

The waterfall was shaped by massive volcanic eruptions that formed the Aso caldera roughly 90,000 years ago. These geological events created the volcanic landscape through which the water flows today.

The waterfall became well-known through Japanese tea advertisements, transforming it into a symbol of natural beauty in media. Visitors often recognize the location from these commercials and come to see it in person.

The walk from the car park to the falls takes only a few minutes, and the path is kept up all the way to the space behind the falling water. Walking sticks are available to borrow. Since November 2021 entry to Nabegataki Park has required an advance reservation.

The space behind the falling water is unusually large for a waterfall of this size, which is why Nabegataki is cited as a representative example of a Japanese waterfall you can walk behind. The path to the back of the falls is well maintained and walking sticks are lent out at the site.