Fukiware Falls (Fukiware-no-Taki) in Gunma, Japan

Fukiware Falls [Japanese: Fukiware-no-taki：吹割の滝] is called as "Niagara falls in the Orient [Japanese: 東洋のナイアガラ]".

Fukiware Falls is one of the Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls.
Location : in Gunma prefecture [Japanese: 群馬県]


 

Got off the tour bus

 

 

↓

 

 

Walked in Fukiware Canyon (or Katashina Canyon)

[Japanese: Fukiware-Keikoku: 吹割渓谷 or Katashina-Keikoku: 片品渓谷].

 

 

We could start to see a part of Fukiware Falls.
We could see the waterfall crevice,

but we couldn't see whole Fukiware Falls from here.

 

↓

 

 

Walked more.

Water drops into the cracks between two mass of rocks.
We could also see the bridge behind the Fukiware Falls from here.

 

 

↓

 

Walked more.

We could see the V-shaped rock erosion and basin under the waterfall.

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Near the Fukiware Falls

There was a stream near the Fukiware Falls.

 

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Walked along the stream.

 

 

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We found interesting things.

the first one

A part of the cliff looks like a human face.

 

 

Could you find a face? 

 

⇩

For Tomo, it looked like a eggplant-shaped face with fat lips.
  

 The second one. 

Do you see something?

This rock is officially called "rock of female demon's mask [Japanese: Hannya-iwa: 般若岩]".
 

 

  ⇩

For Tomo, they looked like a ghost or death.

She saw two scary faces with big mouths open.

 

↓

 

After we went further,

we found the Masutobi Falls [Japanese: Masutobi-no-taki: 鱒飛の滝]

 

↓

 

We went back to the tour bus. 

Episode of Fukiware Falls

Tomo & Chouchou went to Fukiware falls [Fukiware-no-taki; 吹割の滝] in Gunma prefecture with a bus tour. Fukiware Falls are called as "Niagara falls in the Orient" and also one of the Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls.
Tomo & Chouchou have been to the Niagara Falls in Canada. So we were excited to see the "Niagara Falls in the Orient" in Japan.
In the photo of the travel brochure, water flows into the crack between two mass of rocks. It didn't look same as the Niagara Falls but it was rare for us to see such waterfalls. That excited us a lot.
After getting off the bus, we walked in Fukiware Canyon [Fukiware-Keikoku; 吹割渓谷]. Fukiware Canyon is also called Katashina Canyon (Katashina-Keikoku; 片品渓谷].
We could start to see a part of Fukiware Falls. We could see the waterfall crevice but we couldn't see whole Fukiware Falls from there.
After walking more, we started to see that water drops into the cracks between two mass of rocks. We could also see the bridge behind the Fukiware Falls.
After going ahead more, we could see the V-shaped rock erosion and basin under the waterfall.
Fukiware Falls is about 7m high and 30m in width and located around the middle of the Katashina river. We were moved to see such special waterfalls. We wanted to approach closer to the eroded rift but it was slippery and dangerous, so we couldn't approach more.
There was a stream near the Fukiware Falls. While walking along the stream, we found interesting things. Tomo has lots of imaginations, so she could see some faces on the rocks. Rock of female demon's mask [Hannya-iwa; 般若岩] was very scary. 

We wanted to go further to see more but we had to go back to the tour bus. It was anyway enjoyable to see the colored leaves and to discover the Fukiware Falls. 

Tomo & Chouchou's advice for Fukiware Falls

1) If you go forward further from Rock of female demon's mask [Hannya-iwa], you will find the Masutobi Falls [Masutobi-no-taki; 鱒飛の滝].
Tomo & Chouchou didn't have so much time to look around in Fukiware Canyon because of the tour schedule. But there are so many attractive places to see around the Fukiware Falls. So we advise you to take time and look around there.
For example, you can visit several bridges, all the three waterfall view spots, and the god of mountain called "Jyuni-sama; 十二様". You can also see the Wedded Rock (Meoto-iwa; 夫婦岩) and the wide rock called "Senjo-jiki; 千畳敷".

2) The Fukiware Falls is the good place to see the colored leaves too.
It is very soothing place and it helps to reduce stress. Please enjoy free negative air ionization therapy!

Information

Address: Tonemachi-Okkai, Numata, Gunma [群馬県沼田市利根町追貝]
Access:  It takes for 40 minutes from JR Numata station [JR沼田駅] by Kanetsu Kotsu Bus [関越交通バス] direction to Kamata, Tokura, Oshimizu [鎌田・戸倉・大清水方面行].  Get off at "Fukiware-no-taki [吹割の滝]" bus stop and walk 10 minutes.
Free access 
Best time for colored leaves:  from end of Oct. to beggining of Nov.
Attention! The path along the waterfalls is closed from December to March.


Other places in Gunma, Japan

- Oze Marshland [Ozegahara] hike

- Mt.Motoshirane hike & Yugama in Kusatsu

Oze Marshland [Ozegahara] hike in Japan

Oze Marshland [Japanese: 尾瀬ヶ原] is located 

in Oze National Park [Japanese: 尾瀬国立公園].

We must walk on one-way boardwalk in Oze.

Oze National Park map at Hatomachi-toge [鳩待峠].

 

Tomo&Chouchou started hiking from Hatomachi-tōge [鳩待峠] toward Yamanohana [山ノ鼻].

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Yamanohana [山ノ鼻] resthouse

a lunch box called "Maitake-bento; まいたけ弁当".
（maitake is a mushroom, ram's head or sheep's head in English)

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After lunch, we walked to Ushikubi [牛首].

white skunk cabbages (mizubasho; 水芭蕉) in Oze. 

marsh pond [Japanese: 池塘 or 池沼]

We could see several mountains such as Mt. Shibutsu/Mt. Shifutsu [至仏山].

 

Yello flowers called Kingcups / Marsh marigolds [Japanese: リュウキンカ] were also blooming around Yamanohana.

Episode of Oze Marshland hike

Tomo&Chouchou went hiking to Oze Marshland (=Ozegahara, 尾瀬ヶ原）where was famous for white skunk cabbage (=mizubashō in Japanese).
We went there with day-hike group tour of Club Tourism International Inc..

Oze Marshland is located in Oze National Park [Japanese: 尾瀬国立公園].
Oze Marshland [Ozegahara] is very popular hiking place.
To protect the marsh, boardwalks are made for hikers. So it was easy to walk. Hiking in Oze was not difficult. However so many people come for hiking in Oze Marshland, and also we must walk on one-way boardwalk. As a result, it was crowded and it took time to hike there. Especially to go to the toilet, it was very crowded and we needed to line up a lot.
Tomo&Chouchou started hiking from Hatomachi-tōge [鳩待峠] toward Yamanohana [山ノ鼻]. There were bathroom and shops at Yamanohana.
Tomo&Chouchou decided to eat lunch at Yamanohana. Lunch box was included in our hiking tour. We received a lunch box called "Maitake-bento". Maitake-bento is the specialty of Gunma prefecture. It was very good.
After eating lunch, we walked again toward Ushikubi [牛首]. Most of hikers came with the tour hike until Yamanohana, then they go back to Hatomachi-tōge [鳩待峠]. So after Yamanohana, there were less hikers and we could hike faster. Moreover, around Yamanohana and Ushikubi, we could see full of white skunk cabbages (mizubashō; 水芭蕉), some marsh ponds [池塘, 池沼], several mountains such as Mt. Shibutsu/Mt. Shifutsu [至仏山]. It was very beautiful landscape.
Yellow flowers called Kingcups/Marsh marigolds [リュウキンカ]were also blooming. It was beautiful to see white & yellow flowers together.

Oze marshland was crowded but it was refreshing to see white skunk cabbages, marsh ponds and mountains that we could only see in Oze.
Tomo knew the name of Oze because she used to sing "Natsu-no-Omoide; 夏の思い出" at elemenary school. So Tomo wanted to visit someday. It became reality.
It was a beautiful place like a song.


information

White skunk cabbages (mizubashō) blooming time: from Late May to mid-June

Colored leaves time: from end of September

Hiking in Oze is available from mid-May to end of Oct..
(Only advanced hikers can access to Oze during winter.)


Other places in Gunma, Japan

- Mt.Motoshirane hike & Yugama in Kusatsu

- Fukuware Falls (Fukiware-no-Taki)

Tsutsujigaoka park in Gunma, Japan

Tsutsujigaoka Park Azelea Festival

つつじが岡公園つつじまつり

There are 800-year-old Azaleas (=Rhododendron kaempferi)

 and gigantic trees of Azaleas in Tsutsujigaoka park.
Azaleas (=Tsutsuji in Japanese).

Each type of Azalea has each bloom time.

 

Pink Azeleas was full bloom.

The bloom of Red Azeleas was a bit later than pink one.

 

We could see cherry blossoms along the river.

racoon dog statues near the entrace of the park.

Pon chan

(a racoon dog mascot of Tatebayashi city)

Episode of Tsutsujigaoka park

Tomo&Chouchou went to day trip tour to go to Tsutsujigaoka park in Tatebayashi city in Gunma.

In Tsutsujigaoka park, there are 800-year-old Azaleas (=Rhododendron kaempferi) and gigantic trees of Azaleas which has 5m in height. Azaleas (=Tsutsuji in Japanese) in Tsutsujigaoka park have been kept naturally since 800 years ago, so they are very valuable. It's said that Azaleas in Tsutsujigaoka park is the best in Japan and they could be the best in the world.

We must follow the walking path to see Azaleas in the park. There are around 50 kinds and 10,000 bushes of Azaleas in the park. There are several types of Azaleas which are red, pink, white etc.. Each type of Azaleas has each bloom time. So we couldn't see full bloom of all Azeleas. When we went there, pink Azeleas were well bloomed.
Tsutsujigaoka park has 49,890m² so it's very large. The river runs beside the park. We could walk along the river. In the park, we could see cherry blossoms too. We could walk under the cherry blossoms in the park.

Tatebayashi [館林] is famous for Japanese folktale "Bunbuku Chagama [分福茶釜]" so we can see raccoon dog statue near the entrance of the park. Also, we found the sign of mascot of Tatebayashi city called "Pon chan" in the park.
Pon chan wears Azalea on the head and its body is made by Chagama (=tea kettle). It was cute.
Near the entrance of Tsutsujigaoka park, there are many souvenir shops. So before the departure, we shopped some local products as a souvenir.
We can often see Azeleas in Japan. But we had never seen such a big Azelea tree! Moreover it was natural one. After knowing that Tsutsujigaoka park has 800 years history, we could appreciate Azeleas more.


Information
Tsutsujigaoka Park
群馬県立つつじが岡公園

Address: 3128-5 Hanayamacho, Tatebayashi, Gunma
所在地： 群馬県館林市花山町3128-5

Access
Get off at "Tatebayashi" station of Tobu Isesaki Line [東武伊勢崎線館林駅].
↓ after getting off, choose one from the following way.
A) on foot  30 - 40 minutes
B)by local bus Tatebayashi/Itakura line [館林・板倉線]
   get off at "Tsutsujigaoka Koen Iriguchi [つつじが岡公園入口]" and walk around 12min.
C)by shuttle bus  (it runs only during Tsutsuji/Azalea festival)
D)by taxi around 10minutes
Azalea/Tsutsuji Bloom time: from mid. April to beg. May


other articles about seasonal flower events

-> Moss Phlox in Ota, Gunma

-> Osaka　Tsurumi Ryokuchi [Park], Osaka

-> suburb of Paris　Parc de Sceaux, France

-> Ottawa in Canada Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa

Moss Phlox in Ota, Gunma, Japan

Ota Moss Phlox festival: from April to May
There are one millions of Phlox Subulatas in Ota-shi Hokubu Undo Koen.

colorful Moss phlox in Ota northern sport park

[Japanese: Ota-shi Hokubu Undo Koen; 太田市北部運動公園]

 

Episode of Moss Phlox in Ota Northern Sport Park

Tomo&Chouchou joined day-tour to go to see Phlox Subulata (=Moss Phlox) in Ota northern sport park [=Ota-shi Hokubu Undo Koen; 太田市北部運動公園 in Japanese] in Ota city, Gunma.

As soon as we got off the bus, we could see full of Phlox Subulatas in front of us.
It was surprisingly beautiful. The flowers were colorful such as pink, orange yellow and white. It was too beautiful. We couldn't stop taking photos.
Ota-chi Hokubu Undo Koen was very large. We rushed to see the park as much as we could. It would have been nice to take a walk or stay relaxed there. As it was the group tour, we had to leave the park.
It was the moment we could be relaxed. We felt like we were in the another world!


Information

Ota northern sport park [太田市北部運動公園]
Address : 2079-3 Kamigodocho, Ota, Gunma
群馬県太田市上強戸町2079-3

For your information,
We can see illumination in Ota-shi Hokubu Undo Koen from October to January.


other articles about seasonal flower events

- Tsutsujigaoka park, Gunma, Japan

- Tsurumi Ryokuchi [Park], Osaka, Japan

- Parc de Sceaux, France

- Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa, Canada