Tadachi Waterfalls are located in the steep granite mountains that tower above the picturesque village of Tadachi in Nagiso Town. Here lies one of the greatest secrets of the area. Tadachi Waterfalls are listed in Japan’s top 100 waterfalls yet despite all the tourism that the Nakasendo gets, this hike remains virtually empty almost all of the time. Seven enormous cascading falls can be encountered on the trail, the tallest of which, Tenkawa Waterfall, is 40m tall. The gorgeously clear mountain water has hues of green and blue which sparkle in the sunlight.

The hike starts from the car park below where, if you are not able to drive there yourself, a taxi will take you from Nagiso Station. From there the hike heads up and up and up. The first hour takes you through a stunning ancient forest with the famous trees of the Kiso Valley, many of which are hundreds of years old. Following this section the waterfalls begin. This section is steep and traverses sheer cliff faces relying upon wooden board walks at points, many of which are old and rotting and in need of repair. Care must be taken. This hike is not for people who are scared of heights and I have set a weight limit of 90kg on this tour for your own safety. After you pass by seven incredible towering waterfalls, the hike heads steeply uphill towards the view point at the top of Fudo Iwa. Enjoy incredible views of the Nobi Plain before looping back down and returning to the start point of the hike from whence you came.

One of the reasons the hike is so beautiful is the areas history. These mountains were forbidden from being climbed for hundreds of years. The only time that entry was permitted was during times of drought when the local villagers would climb the holy mountain to pray for rain. As a result the forest has been protected somewhat for logging. Timber from the forests of the Kiso Valley have long been sought after and, despite being heavily protected during the Edo period (1603-1867), the enormous ancient forests of Kiso are mostly lost. But here is Tadachi, a rare piece of history remains possible to see.

This hike takes place at an altitude of around 800m-1300m and is much colder than the Nakasendo below. As a result, this tour is only available from mid-April to mid-November and may be cancelled due to weather conditions. This makes a great hike in the summer months, when the Nakasendo is too hot to be enjoyed!