Nara is a beautiful city located in Japan’s Kansai region. The name itself brings a smile to anyone who has been there. Since Nara was the ancient capital of Japan, it holds a lot of cultural importance.
The Deer Park 奈良公園, Kasuga Grand Shrine 春日大社, and the Great Buddha 大仏 statue at Todaiji Temple東大寺 are a few prime attractions of Nara. But those who had a chance to explore beyond these tourist hubs have surely come across hidden gems along the way.
Uguisu no taki 鶯の滝 is one such hidden gem among the less-traveled places. I would call myself lucky to have hiked all the way to the waterfall with Viki. It was not a difficult hike, but as you near the fall, you will have to pass through some narrow passages.
Uguisu no taki 鶯の滝, is located in the Kasugayama 春日山 Primeval Forest in Nara. It is named for its association with the uguisu 鶯, or Japanese bush warbler, whose songs are often heard in the area. This beautiful waterfall, surrounded by lush greenery, is a serene spot that offers a cool respite during the summer and stunning autumn foliage.
Going back to a clear morning in January 2016. My university lessons got over early, and I had the rest of the day to myself. Viki and I had an early lunch and set out towards Todaiji 東大寺 with our cameras. We did not have any plan in mind; the idea was to take some snaps at the Deer Park and wander around a bit. The fall leaves (momiji 紅葉) were all gone, and the grass at Wakakusayama 若草山 had started to turn brown.
Having photographed the sites around Todaiji 東大寺 numerous times, we were seeking something new. As we strolled past a cluster of tourist signs, one caught my eye: “Uguisu no taki.” In that moment, I decided we should hike to this spot today.
The trail to the waterfall spans approximately 5 km starting from the foot of Wakakusayama 若草山. It runs between Todaiji 東大寺 and Kasuga Taisha 春日大社, winding through the forest.
Jizō statues are not uncommon along the hiking trails in Japan.
We halted at the Jyuhattyou十八丁休憩舎 rest house for a few minutes and then continued hiking.
You will find several caution signs along this hiking trail. There were some snake warning signs which freaked me out.
Because the hike was fairly easy, I could enjoy the surroundings without getting tired.
We came across this place called Hanayama Jizōnose 花山地蔵の背, which had a few Jizō statues. The area is well maintained, but I could not find any background information about this place.
As we hiked further into the forest, the sunlight was dimmed by the thick canopy, and it got darker. There were no foreign tourists around. We saw a few locals, including a group of older women and a few solo hikers, who greeted us with wide smiles as we crossed paths.
It kept getting colder as we neared the waterfall.
We crossed an old red bridge that led us to a flight of stairs. The waterfall could be seen from here.
We went up the stair and down a steep rocky path.
Take caution here. This climb could be difficult on a rainy day, or even dangerous if the stones are slippery.
Another Jizō statue near the waterfall.
The sign says, ‘奈良県では、古くから地域の人々の生活と深く関わり守られてきた清澄な水や、すぐれた水環境を「やまとの水」として選定しました。 ‘
Yamato no Mizu 大和の水
“Yamato no Mizu” (大和の水) refers to high-quality water sources found in the Nara Prefecture of Japan. These water sources are celebrated for their purity and cultural importance, and they play a vital role in the natural and human heritage of the region.
Uguisu no taki 鶯の滝 is one of the water sources referred to as “Yamato no Mizu” (大和の水). Recognizing Uguisu no taki 鶯の滝 as “Yamato no Mizu” 大和の水 helps in the conservation efforts to protect and preserve the natural environment of the area. This designation brings awareness and encourages sustainable practices to maintain the site’s pristine condition.
We spent around ten to fifteen minutes at the fall, capturing some moments in our camera.
We retraced our steps along the same path. Strangely, it always feels like the journey to a destination takes longer than the trip back.
As we walked down the hill, the bright sunlight surrounded us. Deep inside the forest, I initially believed the sun had already set, but to my surprise, it continued to shine brightly.
We stopped at a tea-house for refreshments since we were tired from the hike. Despite our fatigue, this is one of my favorite memories from Japan.