Hossawa Falls (Hinohara)

 waterfall, picturesque, interesting place

Even in Tokyo, there are waterfalls, despite the impression that one might have. Hossawa Falls are about 60 meters in height plus a few smaller stages below which look more like a river rapids than a waterfall, but they add quite nicely to effect of the watefall. In the winter it often freezes up and can be extremely beautiful (it often appears on the news when it does freeze over). Throughout parts of the winter the falls are lit up which only increases the prettiness.

The tourist buereau in the nearby village center (very small, just a small gathering of buildings between the mountains) has pictuers taken of the falls and are definitly worth a look should one be in the area.

Getting there: There are 2 or 3 buses, some 35-40 minutes from Musashi-Itsukaichi station. Aftre you get off, move along the paved path which is to the right from the main road (if you go southwestward), cross the bridge and then walk to the along the left path, across the bridge and past a "post office" marked visitors' center. Be careful - do not try climbing the slopes.
Most people go all the way the the road, about a 10 minute walk in the woods from the falls.
Others just pass through the village only stopping the village center making it about a 25 minute walk all the way the base of the falls.

A tea-house, a small restaurant and a souvenir shop can be found at the beginning of the trail towards the falls. Some five kilometers to the East (take a bus) there's the Seoto-no Yu hot spring, nice, and its rotemburo overlooks a woody walley.

www.brendanpaull.com/waterfall/English/hossawa.html