Striking Harajiri Falls

Harajiri Falls in southern Oita prefecture is one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls.

Nicknamed the Oriental Niagara, it does bear a resemblance to its North American namesake with its horse-shaped falls that are over 20 meters high. It is said that the falls were formed as part of the eruption of Mt Aso in neighboring Kumamoto prefecture some 90,000 years ago. You can get a bird's eye view of the water from a suspension bridge across the river; there is also a walking path that leads along the riverbank and circles back over the top of the falls. A nearby roadside station sells products from local farms and boasts two restaurants for hungry travelers.