A huge network of streams and rivers crisscross Otaki’s rugged landscape, and there are numerous waterfalls around the village. Kiyotaki and Shintaki Falls are the best known; each over 30-meters-high, they have been sacred places of purification for ascetics and pilgrims for centuries. Today in Japan, they are also regarded as power spots, parts of the landscape healing energy.
In the old days, pilgrims could only begin climbing Mt. Ontake after long periods of austerities at the falls, accompanied by the appropriate rituals and extensive fasting and meditation. Practitioners of Ontake-san’s mountain faith still perform their purifications beneath the falls today, but for much shorter periods.
Every season has its own draw. In spring, the falls thunder with melt-water from the mountain. Particularly in the summer, don’t be surprised if you encounter groups of white-clad pilgrims performing austerities. You’ll hear them chanting their incantations as you approach. Autumn is gorgeous with the colors of the changing leaves framing the cascades.
While Kiyotaki and Shintaki Falls both fulfill a similar function for the faithful, their surroundings and atmospheres are unique. We highly recommend visiting both. Shintaki is less visited and has an otherworldly vibe. Feel free to walk past the shrine into the cave behind the falls, but watch your step—the damp rocks can be slippery.
The Ontake Waterfall Trail
Part of the Ontake Pilgrimage Trail, this hike connects the sacred falls and lets you walk in the footsteps of centuries of spiritual pilgrims. Starting about 3.5 km up from the village center, the loop trail takes about 2 hours to walk and includes some of the mountain’s more otherworldly scenery.
For those with less time, a steep ascent/descent over the ridge between the falls takes about 20 minutes each way. The trail is generally accessible from early April until the first snows in December.
Important note: These waterfalls are sacred sites. Practitioners and locals would never stand under them without the proper instruction and ceremonies. To learn about how you can try traditional waterfall meditation for yourself, see our Experience Takigyo page.
Kiyotaki Falls
Shintaki Falls
Otaki Experience 