Namekawa Great Falls spreads 40 meters wide as it drops 80 — proportions that make it one of the largest waterfalls in all of Tohoku, by the Japanese record's own account. The falls pour over a great outcrop of rhyolite, dividing into several streams across the volcanic rock face, at about 860 meters elevation on the upper Matsukawa River, a tributary of the Abukuma, in the city of Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture. The surrounding stretch of river holds several other falls. Watch the upper right of the face from the viewpoint: in times of high water, especially snowmelt, a phantom companion called Nunobiki Falls appears beside the main cascade. It is one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls.
Visiting Namekawa Great Falls
The falls sit at about 860 m elevation on the upper Matsukawa River in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture. From the viewing platform, the seasonal Nunobiki Falls can appear to the upper right of the main face — but only during high water, such as the snowmelt season.
