Standing at an impressive 88 m high, Oko Waterfall is Yakushima’s tallest waterfall. Its two falls unleash a large volume of water that can be heard throughout the valley. They sometimes become a single powerful stream during the rainy season and typhoons. This waterfall is one of only two places on Yakushima that allows visitors to get close to the falls, where its loud echo and refreshing spray can be experienced. Dragonflies can be spotted circling above the river in the autumn.
Oko Waterfall was listed one of Japan’s 100 most impressive waterfalls by the Japanese Ministry of Environment in 1990. Its proximity to Seibu Rindo Forest Path and the charming village of Kurio in the southwest of the island makes this waterfall an excellent stop on a trip around the island.
Use care when approaching the falls during typhoons and the rainy season, though. In the typhoon season, between July and October, the river occasionally overflows and sometimes the water reaches as far as the parking area. It is in this period that Oko Waterfall becomes most powerful and impressive to watch.
