July 30, 2012
Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, southwestern Japan, attracts tourists for its beautiful mountains and hot springs, notably the Beppu and Yufuin spa resorts, but not a few scenic waterfalls can be found at valleys in the mountains or on the riverside.
Some of them are designated as part of Japan’s 100 most beautiful falls. While enjoying various types of falls, visitors can obtain fresh air, cooling their heated body. The Higashi-shiiya Waterfall stands in a dynamic landscape in the deep forests. The fall has an elevation of 85 meters down to the basin while its vertical point is on the top of a lava cliff. The Fukino Waterfall entertains viewers with its gentle shape as they watch long white streams falling straight down into a valley far from an observatory. The Ryumon Waterfall is a cataract with a broad two-tier stream, while the Jion Fall is unique as its backside can be seen from beneath the cliff.
The most parts of Japan are abundant in water, but sometimes, droughts occur, and conversely, floods triggered by typhoons and rain fronts damage rice paddies and fields every year. The series of natural disasters tells its habitants about the preciousness and at the same time, awfulness of water in their life.
Actually, heavy rains played havoc with rural areas in Oita and in the neighboring prefecture of Kumamoto from early to mid-July. Floods and landslides washed away hundreds of houses and claimed about 20 lives in the areas. Precipitation in a certain remote village reached about 1,500 millimeters in less than a week, almost matching the annual precipitation in Tokyo.
A party of about 40 mostly senior tourists one time considered canceling their tour of seven waterfalls in Oita following the heavy rains. But, as it was clear on the day of departure, they decided to carry it out. “As we can be here today, they all look happy,” a guide said. Because of the heavy rain in the past few weeks, the amount of water has rather increased and this has made the falls look more dynamic, the guide said.
Some paths, trails and facilities for tourists in the affected areas remain to be repaired. But at a time when small towns and villages in Japan pin hopes on eco-friendly tours, more people are hoped to visit rural areas, not only helping the local economy but also reconfirming the importance of the nature for themselves.
