Taroshi Falls

Taroshi Fall has a giant icicle every winter and around February 10th they measure it. The bigger it is, the better the rice harvest will be. According to local folklore.This year. It was very big at 4.5 meters. It's a fun event.

A direct waterfall with a drop of 13 meters located in a small Edazawa stream that flows into the Katsumaru River. Taroshi means icicle in dialect. In the winter, the waterfall turns into icicles, and in the past, the thickness of the icicles was used to predict the year's rice production. Currently, only the thickness is measured. A small shrine is set up behind the waterfall. A bridge is built over the Kuzumaru River for two months, from early February to late March, and you can go to see the icicles. The bridge is removed outside of this period, so if you want to approach it, you must cross the Kuzumaru River. The water is knee deep and the current is strong. It's about 200m from the entrance on the opposite bank to the waterfall, and takes about 10 minutes. There is a rope leading to the waterfall, so you won't get lost, but the route is basically snow-bound, and it's quite difficult to walk without snow. The amount of water in the waterfall is very small and it is not worth seeing. However, when you think of how thick icicles can grow thanks to a small amount of water, you can feel the power of nature. Parking available. Three cars can be parked near the entrance. There are no toilets. I think the best time to visit is when the bridge is being built. It's rare to see a waterfall that isn't frozen, but I don't recommend it.

The parking lot was small enough to accommodate 3 cars. I guess it's because it's a niche place. As you go down the stairs, you will see a temporary toilet and a sign warning you to watch your step! After crossing a simple, low-slope bridge, we started climbing a snowy mountain where we couldn't help but slip 😂 I didn't take any precautions, but I wish I had snow shoes and gloves! I had a rope, so I relied on it and the strength of my arms to climb up and reach the waterfall. As for the waterfall, you could hear the sound of water falling inside the waterfall and it was very mysterious! I thought I wouldn't be able to see it anymore since it got warmer, but it looks like it'll be fine for a while!

As of 2021.01.11. There is almost two-way traffic to the destination, and the snowfall is around 20 cm, so be careful not to pass each other. For nearly 30 years, I have been going every year from the end of the year until the second Friday of the year, and if things are going well for Taroshi this year, we can expect a very good harvest, so things may be going well. The amount of water involved in crossing the river is a little high, and unless you are an expert, it can cause accidents, so multiple people and footwear are required, and it may be wise to wait until the bridge is reached. Ice bamboo shoots are growing rapidly. Does it occasionally slip and break? There are some people out there, so please be careful where you step. Above all, vehicles are often filled with vehicles running before the icicle measurement event every year, and salvage is frequent, so this year may be especially dangerous. It's work-related, and above all, it's a nuisance to the local people, and there's no cellphone service, so you're at risk for yourself and your companions, and at the very least, it's essential to have a car and equipment that will allow you to escape on your own. This winter, except on measurement days when snow removal is scheduled, it will be difficult to pass oncoming vehicles due to traffic times and other factors (there are many places where one of you will have to turn back), so we would like to suggest the above equipment to avoid any inconvenience.

The thickness of the frozen waterfall is measured on February 11th every year, and the thickness is used to predict the fruitfulness of crops for that year. It's quite a sight to see, but the footing is poor and there are only ropes strung up as handrails, so it might be a bit too difficult for children and the elderly. We recommend that you do not go alone if possible. It's surprisingly not that far away, so you can get there quickly despite the poor footing. After that, the road to the site is narrow and mountainous, making it difficult to pass oncoming cars, and the slope is steep and there is snow left behind, so you have to be careful.