Waterfalls of Miyazaki: Weekend Getaway

After Saturday’s successful Hash, (see above post – coming soon) I was pumped to take Sunday and Monday (some national holiday) to explore numerous waterfalls in the neighboring prefecture of Miyazaki. I was intrigued by my friend Adam's post of this web site. When I looked at the map of Miyazaki, I noticed an area of heavy waterfall concentration. The area was in the eastern-most area of Miyazaki Prefecture, Shiiba Village. I knew exactly where I had to go. Although the weather is still a little cold to do any waterfall jumping, I was excited to do a little research for future jumps.

Manami and I set off in her sister’s sweet Toyota Land Cruiser Prado:

I get too nervous maneuvering that beast around narrow city streets, but once we get to the country, I hop behind the wheel. On our way, we come across various interesting things. A road swept away by an autumn typhoon: Manami gets a closer look over the edge:

One of many obstructions we encounter on a thin mountain road:

A mountainside decimated by the chopstick industry:

Sure enough, we begin to find the waterfalls as promised. A tall one cascading over rocks:

A few with a powerful stream source:

And finally, we find what we came for, the jumpers. The first one is hidden fairly well and I have to crawl through some foliage to get to the top of it:

It is a high flow stream that falls about 5 meters into a clear deep pool:

Then we happen upon perhaps the best one I’ve seen in Japan. Ukonoko Falls just across the border in Gokase, Miyazaki:

At first, I am intimidated by its size and the massive cliffs surrounding the lagoon on 3 sides. Upon closer inspection, (that’s me behind the falls)

I see that it may be a jumping possibility. It would require an inquiry to the pool’s depth and some cajones to attempt the 20 meter plunge, no doubt. Come summer, I plan on returning to both of these jumpers for implementation of phase 2. Stay tuned for footage.