Inkura Falls drops 44 meters in the town of Shiraoi, on Hokkaido's southern coast. Its name is written entirely in katakana — a rarity among Japan's celebrated waterfalls, most of which carry names drawn from temples, legends, or the classical landscape vocabulary. In 1991 it was selected to the Ministry of the Environment's official list of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls, placing this Shiraoi cascade among the country's most highly regarded falls and one of a small Hokkaido contingent on the national roster. For travelers working through the Top 100, Inkura represents the list's quieter side: a fall whose reputation rests on the water itself rather than centuries of accumulated lore.
Visiting Inkura Falls
The falls are located in Shiraoi, a town in southern Hokkaido. The available sources record nothing further about trails or viewing arrangements, so check locally before planning a visit.
