Kegon Falls

Kegon Falls concentrates the water leaving Lake Chūzenji into a single dramatic drop: the main cascade is 97 metres high and plunges down a rock face into a narrow gorge. The first view comes from a free upper platform, where the landscape makes the height and surrounding forest easy to understand. To get closer to the base, an elevator operating since 1930 descends to a second viewpoint, where sound and mist make the scene more immersive.

The elevator operates from 8:00 to 17:00 between March and November and from 9:00 to 16:30 in winter. A return ticket costs ¥600 for adults and ¥400 for school-age children; preschoolers are free and no reservation is needed. Visitors praise the height of the falls and the lower view, although some find the stop brief or the elevator an added expense. The upper viewpoint is enough for a quick, free stop; the lower platform adds a different angle and a closer sense of scale.

The Chūzenji Onsen bus stop is about a five-minute walk away and connects with services from Nikko. In foliage season, the falls and lake can fit into one outing, but road congestion is the deciding factor: Tobu warned that October and November 2026 delays could exceed two hours. Check transport conditions before departure, consider visiting the more distant stop first and leave a generous margin for the return to the station. If time is tight, avoid adding too many stops; the free upper viewpoint is an alternative when waiting for the elevator is impractical or the return timetable is approaching.