Garō Falls

Garo Falls drops 12 meters into an emerald pool at the base of Garo Gorge in Akita. The surrounding forest of painted maple, Japanese cedar, and horse chestnut turns yellow and orange in autumn, thickly covering the path along the water. The falls inspired a waka poem by the traveler and naturalist Sugae Masumi in 1802, now engraved on a stone beside the water. A small shrine built in 1780 and dedicated to Fudo Myo-o stands next to the falls, the fierce-faced Buddhist deity commonly enshrined near waterfalls. A 30-minute walk up the unpaved road above leads to a second two-tiered waterfall, Shiraito Nidan Falls.