Shomyo Falls: The biggest waterfall in Japan

Japan is characterized by its majestic mountains, which give rise to a stunning array of waterfalls. Of these, the biggest and easily one of the most spectacular is Shomyo Falls. Nestled in the picturesque Toyama Prefecture, Shomyo Falls plunges from an impressive 350 meters! This breathtaking site consists of two waterfalls that cascade thousands of gallons of water sourced from the Shomyo River at the top of Mt. Tateyama. The falls attract outdoor enthusiasts from all over Japan, especially from May through November.

Shomyo Falls

The closest station to Shomyo Falls is Chitetsu Tateyama Station. It takes one hour from Toyama Station to Tateyama. In addition, from Tateyama Station, take a bus bound for Shomyo Falls. It is not far from Toyama City, but it can be a day trip! 

Compared to the city area of Toyama, Shomyo Fall is about 10 degrees Celsius lower. The temperature is about 25 degrees Celsius even in the middle of the summer,  a trip to the mountain is pleasant even during the hottest time of the year! 

Once you arrive at the Shomyo-daki bus stop, it is a 20-minute walk to the waterfall. It is already surrounded by high mountains and a beautiful gorge. In just a short walk you will see the waterfall in front of you.

On the way, the Hachirozaka route diverges and climbs the mountain to merge with the Alpine Route for Midagahara. However, proper hiking equipment is absolutely mandatory to continue on the Alpine Route due to the high altitude. Currently, the route is closed.

Shomyo Falls

The area around the waterfall basin is Takimidai Park, where you can see the waterfall up close. The torrents of water originate from the source of the Shomyo River, located at the summit of Mt. Tayeyama. This river is fed by a significant amount of melted snow from the Tateyama Mountain Range. As you approach the basin you will hear the roar of the cascading water. Don’t be surprised if you get misted from the spray of the falls!

The larger waterfall on the left is Shomyo Falls. If you look closely, you can see that the waterfall consists of four stages, with drops at 70m, 57m, 96m, and 126m, respectively. Overall, the drop of this waterfall is 350 meters! Compared to other waterfalls we’ve visited, Minoh Falls in Osaka is only 33 meters tall, and Nachi Falls stands at 133 meters. Even Nikko’s famous Kegon Falls has a height of 97 meters.

The name “Shomyo” derives from the experience Saeki Ariyori, the first explorer of Mt. Tateyama during the 7th to 8th century. had when he first came to this waterfall. He likened the sound of the cascading water to the chants of Shomyo, which are Buddhist chants. While one may not actually hear the sound of chants coming from the waterfall, its impressive size certainly evokes an awe-inspiring atmosphere.

Hannoki Falls

The smaller waterfall is Hannoki Falls, which can be seen even near the entrance of the park of the path. Surprisingly, Hannoki waterfall’s fall is the taller of the two falls, standing at 500 meters! However, Hannoki is a seasonal fall; you can see it in spring or right after the rain in summer. We were lucky to see it as Tateyama had just had its first snow of the year (2024). Because the volume of water is less than that of Shomyo Falls and since it is not always there, Hannoki is not registered as the largest waterfall in Japan.