Harajiri Falls, Waterfall in Bungoōno, Japan
Harajiri Falls is a waterfall over the Ōno River in Bungoōno, Japan, extending 120 meters (394 feet) across and dropping 20 meters (66 feet) over a continuous basalt cliff. Dark rock walls form a straight line along the entire drop, and a fine mist rises constantly from the riverbed below.
The cliff formed 90,000 years ago when volcanic flows from Mount Aso shaped the rock and left it to cool slowly. Later erosion by the river exposed the edge as it is today, creating the drop seen now.
The name derives from a word for wide land, referring to the broad fields around the river. Visitors often see rice paddies just below the cliffs, where farmers have used the water for cultivation across generations.
Parking is available near the viewing point, and visitors reach the site within a few minutes on foot from the parking area. Toilets and bicycle rental are available, and the waterfall lies roughly seven minutes by car from JR Ogata Station.
The entire width drops evenly in a straight vertical line, rare among Japanese waterfalls that often fall in multiple stages or sections. Rock layers at the cliff show clear horizontal bands left by successive lava flows during cooling.
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