lienyuan lee / CC BY 3.0

These twin waterfalls drop from the cliffs of Sounkyo Gorge a short distance apart: the delicate, thread-like Ginga (Milky Way) Falls plunges about 120 m, while the powerful Ryusei (Shooting Star) Falls drops about 90 m. Together they are known as the 'husband-and-wife falls' and are counted among Japan's 100 finest waterfalls; a steep 20-minute trail climbs to the Sobakudai platform that frames both at once.

Best season

Autumn

Crowd level

Popular

Nearest station

No rail access — bus from JR Kamikawa Station to Sounkyo Onsen ~30 min, then car/taxi ~4 km east on Route 39

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