Kirifuri Falls

**It is a view across, not from below.** The observation deck faces the fall from the opposite side of the ravine, which shows both tiers at once. There is no path down to the base — do not go looking for one. **Autumn is the fortnight.** Colour on the surrounding slope peaks from mid to late October, earlier than in Nikko town because of the altitude. That is the one time the car park approaches full. **Continue up to the highland.** Kirifuri Kogen above the falls has meadows with day lilies in late June and early July, and the Kirifuri highland trails and the long Tenku Kairo stairway. The falls alone are twenty minutes; with the highland it becomes a proper half-day. **Eat at the top.** There is a soba place and shops at the car park, which is more than most Nikko waterfalls offer and useful because there is nothing further up the road. **Winter turns it to ice.** The fall partially freezes in the cold months and the walk down can be icy. It is spectacular and it needs grips.