Shōmyō Falls, Natural monument waterfall in Ashikuraji, Japan.
Shōmyō Falls is a waterfall in Ashikuraji in Toyama Prefecture that drops across multiple cascade stages down a steep mountain slope. The water plunges over a high rock wall before flowing through narrow gorges in lower sections and eventually joining a mountain stream.
Monks discovered the waterfall centuries ago during their pilgrimages through the Tateyama mountain range. The government later declared it a protected natural monument because of its geological importance to the region.
The name comes from Buddhist chants that monks recited near this spot in spring. Hikers can hear the natural echo bouncing off the rock walls along the path today.
A bus runs from Tateyama Station to a parking area from which a marked hiking trail leads to the waterfall. The trail takes about half an hour and is easy to walk when the weather is dry.
Melting snow creates the nearby Hannoki Falls in spring, which flows for only a few weeks each year. Both waterfalls then drop down the rock face in parallel and form a rare natural spectacle.
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