Shindō Falls, Natural waterfall in Kokonoe, Japan.

Shindō Falls consists of two waterfalls in the Kusu River gorge: the male Odaki drops 83 meters and the female Medaki 93 meters, making the female fall the taller of the pair. The Odaki has a plunge pool of 1,600 square meters, and a walking trail leads to the falls.

The falls appear in the 1486 Funaoka Shingū Hachiman engi, a Muromachi-period text whose tale of village division names them. In 1804 the painter Tanomura Chikuden described the "Shindō waterfall" in the Bungo Kokushi, a survey of Bungo Province. Locals long made offerings of rice cakes into the plunge pool after disasters to calm the dragon deity.

The name comes from a Japanese word meaning to shake, describing the force of water striking the rocks below. The twin waterfalls have been a defining feature in the local landscape for centuries.

Weather in this mountainous region can shift quickly, so dressing in layers and wearing shoes with good grip is important. The clearest views of the falls occur during drier periods when mist does not obstruct the landscape as much.

The force of the falling water creates vibrations strong enough to be felt at the viewing platforms. This physical sensation is a memorable part of the experience that sets this location apart from other waterfalls.