Ginga & Ryusei Waterfalls

In the Sounkyo Gorge there are many waterfalls that can be seen while traversing through the sheer cliffs, but the most beautiful and famous falls are Ginga and Ryusei. The Ginga and Ryusei Waterfalls are located in the Sounkyo Gorge about 3 kilometers away from the Obako valley. The name Ginga no Taki translates to “Milky Way Waterfall” and Ryusei no Taki means “Shooting Star Waterfall.” They are a pair of waterfalls that is divided by a huge rock formation protruding from the cliff. These falls are also known as Onna Taki (female waterfall) and Otoko Taki (male waterfall) because of their contrasting features and together they are referred to as Meotodaki (husband and wife waterfalls). The water flowing from Ginga falls more gracefully as it separates into something that resembles white thread, while the liquid dropping from 90 meters high gives Ryusei a powerful appearance. The water source for both of these waterfalls comes from Mount Daisetsu. There are trails that allow you to view the falls separately, but if you want to see them together then you can go to the parking lot, which is on the way from Sounkyo Onsen to Taisetsu Lake.