The Waterfall & The Backpack

Listed as one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls, Amagoi no Taki, here in Kamiyama, certainly does not disappoint. It's over 150 feet of cascading water, where 2 falls come together into a gorgeous swimmable pool, one said to be male (short & broad, simple) and the other female (long, narrow & more complex).

The real beauty of this adventure is the hike up to it. From the parking lot, it's about a half mile of very steep pathways and stairs offering breathtaking views at every step. Going up hill was arduous but down hill was the intimidating bit, thank you to whomever put the walking sticks at the start of the trail.

We spent a lovely morning heading up with Hopper in his backpack carrier. (Thanks Eli!) There was a little bit of arguing over who had to carry him, Hopper exercising his Toddler Rights to be excruciatingly specific, but taking turns was where it's at. (Plus a bucking, unhappy tot is not quite the cargo you want to carry on narrow slimy paths.) Sometimes the angle of the path was nearly 45 degrees so an extra 14 kilos was not doable for the whole trip.

There are ropes to climb up the falls to bathe in the falling water and get spectacular views but we opted out as it's wet and slippery, and certainly no terrain for a toddler. And as it was, Hopper was intimidated by the roar of the water and insisted on being held. 

Incidentally, there is a long hose that runs down from the mountain that ends at the main road where you can fill bottles with fresh spring water. So we stop and fill up a few times a week, Hopper loving to ask for his bottle to be filled with "mountain water". Certainly something I will miss when we return to Amsterdam in less than 3 weeks.