Harajiri Falls

Harajiri Falls on the Ogata Plain in southern Oita is sometimes called the Niagara Falls of Japan for its horseshoe shape, though at 20 meters high and 120 meters wide, the scale is much more intimate. Formed by the eruption of Mt. Aso some 90,000 years ago, the falls seem to appear out of nowhere on the surrounding flatlands, which amplifies their impact. A suspension bridge gives a broad view over the whole scene, then a path leads across the top of the falls and down to the basin below, where a small rock outcrop puts you right in the middle of the falling water. A restaurant near the entrance serves local dishes.