Waterfall Tour Owakudani – Chisuji Falls – Hiryu Falls – Hatajuku Village, 2 hours 30 min.
To Chisuji Falls
Get off the Hakone Tozan Train or Tozan Bus at Kowakudani Station. Follow the signboard to Chisuji Falls and go up the steep slope in the residential area. After a while, you will reach a gravel road on your left and proceed through a dimly lit forest. It takes about 15 minutes from the station to arrive at Chisuji Falls. The waterfall is only about 3 meters high and not very powerful, but it is 25 meters wide, and the gentle flow is very beautiful. The waterfall does not originate from a river. This waterfall is special because it comes out from two hardened layers of past lava flows of the mountain. This is a rare and peaceful waterfall that leads to other trails in the area. Even in the middle of summer, the air around this waterfall is cool.
Passing through Mt. Sengen to Hiryu Falls
After crossing the bridge next to the Chisuji waterfall the path splits into two. There is a direct route to Mt. Takanosu, but this time we will take the route on the left to the peak of Mt. Sengen. The forest at the beginning of this trail is full of broad-leaved trees, but it gradually changes to a coniferous forest with mainly cypress trees.
In the spring and early summer, you can hear the chirping of the Chinese bamboo partridges and see frogs from the wandering stream in the area.
After a while, the path becomes flat and comes to a T-junction for a branch to Miyanoshita down the mountain. Turn right here and climb up the straight line, you will reach the summit of Mt. Sengen. It takes about 40 minutes from Chisuji Falls to this point. Near the top of Mt. Sengen the trail will split again. The route from Mt. Sengen to the Hiryu Waterfalls and the Yusakaro-iriguchi bus stop is on the right.
You will briefly exit to the Route 1 road and pass the Yusakaro-iriguchi bus stop. Continue walking for a few minutes and the trail to Hatajuku Village and the Hiryu waterfalls will start on your left. The cypress forests on both sides of the road are well maintained and sunlight reaches the forest floor to encourage a healthy forest. You will reach the Hiryu waterfalls in about 25 minutes. These waterfalls are separated into upper and lower sections. The upper section has a height of about 15m and the lower section is 25m tall.
It is one of the largest waterfalls in Kanagawa Prefecture. It is said to be named after a dragon that seems to be flying up the streaming water. In Japanese legend it is believed that a carp that if determined and strong enough to swim up a waterfall will turn into a dragon when it reaches the top.
To Hatajuku Village
After soaking up the negative ions and positive energy at Hiryu Falls, let’s go to Hatajuku Village. Hatajuku is most well known as being the center of “Yosegi Zaiku.” Yosegi Zaiku is a famous local woodcraft that uses the natural colors of different wood cut into different shapes to make intricate and complex patterns. Yosegi Zaiku is recognized as an important part of Japanese culture by the national government and there are many shops in the area that specialize in this craft. There are even shops where you can try to make your own. The road is narrow from here on, but the occasional cool breeze from the stream is pleasant.
Because of the high humidity in this area a variety of mushrooms grow. Matsusoji, slender caesar, Ohbourai-take, and eyelash cup mushrooms can be seen growing on the ground, on fallen trees, and around the waterfalls. After a while, a columnar jointed rock wall made of lava will be on your left as you descend. These rocks are a reminder of the relative youth of the Hakone mountains and the volcanoes that once erupted here. Also along the descent to Hatajuku is a “married couple sakura” with two cherry trees connected at the base. A little further down the road, you will soon reach Hatajuku.
