Ryūzu Falls, Waterfall in Oku-Nikko, Japan
Ryūzu Falls is a waterfall in Oku-Nikko, Japan, that drops 210 meters (689 feet) down volcanic rock and splits into two streams around a large boulder at the bottom. The cascade is 10 meters (33 feet) wide and the water falls over several tiers of dark lava stone.
The waterfall formed after the final eruption of Mount Nantai, when pumice flows filled what was once a large lake in the Senjogahara area. The split water pattern developed over centuries through erosion of the volcanic rock.
The name comes from the Japanese word for dragon head, as the two streams of water parting around the central rock look like the whiskers of a dragon. Many locals visit the cascade in spring and autumn to experience the seasonal colors of the surrounding forest.
A bus from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station to Yudaki Onsen brings visitors near the cascade. Free parking for 37 cars is available, and pathways with viewing platforms lead down to the base of the falls.
The cascade is the first spot in the Oku-Nikko region to display autumn colors, when the trees along the slope turn bright orange and red. In late May, Togoku azaleas bloom along the rocks and form red and purple flower clusters around the falling water.
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