Color sets Jōfu Falls apart. The 70-meter cascade on the Ōsawa River at Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture, drops over rock faces streaked red and black, and green moss grows against that mineral backdrop to create a landscape unlike its neighbors on the Top 100 list. At the upper left of the fall, erosion has carved a hollow in the cliff, and rock hangs from it in icicle-like pendants resembling stalactites. The plunge pool itself is not large, but the ground in front of the falls opens out generously, giving the whole scene room to breathe. In the seasons of fresh greenery and autumn foliage, the contrast of leaf, moss, and colored stone grows even more striking.
Visiting Jofu Falls
Jōfu Falls is on the Ōsawa River at Kusatsu, in the town of Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture. The area in front of the falls is broad and open. The sources here do not describe the approach trail, so check conditions locally.
