Anmon Falls

The three-hour round-trip hike to Anmon Falls passes through some of the last remaining virgin beech forest in East Asia, part of the Shirakami Sanchi UNESCO World Heritage area. Three waterfalls cascade in sequence through the valley, the tallest dropping 42 meters into a clear pool, each with a distinct character from churning force to a thin, veil-like fall. The trail involves rock scrambling and river crossings that add some adventure. Black bears, Japanese serow, and rare black woodpeckers live in these forests, and the density of the moss-draped canopy gives the whole walk a primeval, undisturbed quality. No commercial development in the area preserves that atmosphere completely.