Yataki Falls in the Matsukawa Gorge: the whole falls from the platform
Parking for 13, and when snow closes it

This journal covers only Yataki Falls, the second waterfall of the Matsukawa Gorge in Takayama Village. It tells you how the falls looks, where the viewing platform is, where to park, and when snow closes the platform.

At Yataki you look at the whole waterfall from a viewing platform set back from the water. This is different from Kaminari Falls, which you walk behind to see from the inside.

The platform cannot be reached from late November to early May because of snow. If you are planning a winter trip, please read this part first.

Yataki Falls, 1,000m up in the Matsukawa Gorge

Yataki Falls stands 1,000m up. The Shinshu Takayama Village Tourism Association puts it ten minutes by car from Yamada Onsen.

You take in the falls from a viewing platform rather than from the foot of the water. Standing back and seeing the whole waterfall at once is the point of Yataki.

The village describes the Matsukawa Gorge as a deep V-shaped valley whose broad slopes are covered in deciduous broadleaf trees. Maples dominate, so the autumn colour here leans red.

How Yataki and Kaminari Falls differ

The Matsukawa Gorge holds two named waterfalls, Yataki and Kaminari. Kaminari is a falls you walk behind, so you see it from the inside.

Yataki is the opposite, viewed as a whole from a platform set back from the water. They sit in the same gorge, so it is easy to confuse the two when you search.

How to walk behind Kaminari is covered in Kaminari Falls. It is about fifteen minutes by car from the ryokan.

When snow closes the Yataki viewing platform

The viewing platform for Yataki Falls cannot be reached from late November to early May because of snow. The village gives the same dates.

In practice, the platform can be visited from early May to late November. If you are coming in winter, please check the dates before you plan your day.

When snow blocks the way, do not push on toward the platform. Visiting Yataki outside the snow season lets you take in the whole falls at an easy pace.

Cherry in early May, autumn colour around 20 October

The Oyamazakura cherry trees at Yataki Falls are at their best in early May. That falls just as the platform becomes reachable again after the snow.

For autumn, the Shinshu Takayama Village Tourism Association gives the colour as around 20 October in an average year. Colour by altitude is set out in Autumn colours in the Matsukawa Gorge.

Ten minutes from Yamada Onsen, parking for 13

The tourism association puts Yataki Falls ten minutes by car from Yamada Onsen. There is parking for thirteen cars.

Separate from the Yataki car park, Yamada Onsen has a free village car park. Directions to the ryokan are set out in Access.

After the falls, a day-use bath at the ryokan

After seeing the falls, you can rest with a day-use bath at The TOJI.ba MATSUKAWAKAN. It is a nine-room hot spring ryokan with a free-flowing indoor bath and a private open-air bath.

Day-use bathing runs from 11:00 to 20:00 (last entry 19:30) at 650 yen (tax included) per person, with no reservation needed. Prices are subject to change; please check before you visit. See Day-use onsen (650 yen, no reservation) for more.

Frequently asked questions