in Kamiyama

We have been in Kamiyama now for roughly four and a half months and this was our first visit to Amagoi no Taki. The waterfalls are a major attraction for visitors to Kamiyama and it was probably unusual not to pay them a visit sooner. Nevertheless, we felt that since the waterfalls must be very special place indeed, a casual visit just would not do them justice, so we put it off. Sometimes it takes an outside influence to break a pattern and so it was on this particular day in July we found ourselves along with a visiting Bed & Studio artist (Beverley Fisher) walking the steep mossy path (white water roaring in our ears).

Borrowing a neatly cut shaft of wood and sidestepping the crabs, the well-worn concrete path cut through the forest adjacent to the river at an average angle of 45˚. This meant that there were many natural micro-falls en route, each more beautiful than the last.  This Fibonacci sequence of beauty continues until you turn the final rock corner and your breath is literally swept away back down in the direction you have just climbed.

There is a metal chain up the side of the waterfall that is very tempting to climb. The rock is green and slimy.  The rock and the spray are cool. The chain is hard and coarse.

I had to try and show the ladies how to climb it.  In reality I was petrified, but apparently I ‘didn’t look scared at all’.  Not bad.

Beverley took to the metal rope next, she made it look far too easy…

Next, my wife had a turn and she made it look like a toad climbing a waterfall. Amazing!

If you fell, this is where you would land.  It could be worse I think.

We took a brief hike up the path towards Higanji Temple for a birds eye view of the valley.  Upon reaching a suitable height we rested, almost bothered a snake and spotted a UFO (above).  

I think there is a lot to be said for deciding to visit a place on a whim.