Ryuo Falls — the "Dragon King's Waterfall" — drops 20 meters in the Sagayama area of Otoyo, a town in Kochi Prefecture's Nagaoka District. Its name, written with the characters for dragon king, follows a naming tradition that runs through many of Japan's mountain cascades, where dragon deities were associated with water and rainfall. What sets this modest fall apart on paper is a double distinction: alongside its place among the official Top 100 Waterfalls of Japan, it is also listed among Kochi Prefecture's 40 Famous Waters, a recognition of the quality of the water itself. Few falls in the national selection carry a water-quality citation as well as a scenic one.
Visiting Ryuo Falls
The falls lie in the Sagayama area of Otoyo, in Nagaoka District in inland Kochi Prefecture. The provided sources give no detail on trails or facilities, so check locally for current access before planning a visit.
