The Trail
A 90-minute downhill walk of about 1.5km past all seven falls — well-kept paths, plenty of stairs, and doable for most fitness levels. Here is exactly what to expect at each one.
The single best decision you can make: take the Tokai Bus C50 to the Nanadaru Iriguchi (upper) stop and walk the trail downhill, north to south. You pass all seven waterfalls in order and finish at Odaru and the Amagiso Onsen — a soak, a foot bath, and the lower bus stop are all waiting at the end.
Bus times, fares, and the upper-vs-lower stop logic are covered in the full transport guide.
Walked downhill, this is an easy-to-moderate trail that most visitors — including families and casual walkers — finish comfortably. What it is not is flat: staircases link the falls, and the stone steps are often damp and mossy.
If you start at the bottom instead, you climb those same stairs in reverse — fine for regular hikers, sweatier for everyone else.
From the upper trailhead down to the onsen — each fall with its height, its signature feature, and the practical note nobody tells you.
The tallest fall on the upper trail, pouring down a wall of columnar basalt into a deep kettle-shaped pool. It sets the tone for the whole walk: hexagonal lava columns you will keep seeing all the way down.
Practical: viewed from a dedicated deck — the easiest big-fall photo of the day.
A short, lively cascade named for the shape of its flow. The draw here is less the fall itself than how you see it: from a suspension bridge slung across the gorge.
Practical: the bridge deck can be slippery with spray — hold the cable, not your phone, on wet days.
Small but strange: the basalt around the fall has weathered into a pattern that looks uncannily like snake scales. It rewards a slow look rather than a drive-by glance.
Practical: an easy stop — no detour needed, the trail passes right by.
The centerpiece of the trail. Shokeidaru drops over textbook basalt columns beside the bronze statue of the Izu Dancer — the young heroine of Kawabata’s famous story, after whom the Odoriko trains are named. Come between 8:00 and 10:00 AM and the low light catches the mist for the best photo of your visit.
Practical: an accessible path serves this viewpoint, making it the most reachable of the seven.
The smallest of the seven — blink and you could miss it. Treat it as a checkpoint and a breather: the forest around it is often the quietest stretch of the walk.
Practical: a good spot to let faster walkers pass on the narrower path.
Named for the confluence where two streams merge into one. It is more a place than a plunge — watch the two currents braid together below the viewpoint.
Practical: from here the trail begins its final descent toward Odaru — the biggest stairs are ahead.
The Great Falls: 30 meters of water ending the trail at the Amagiso Onsen, where you can soak within sight of the fall itself. Arriving here downhill means the steep stairs are behind you, not ahead — one more argument for starting at the top.
Practical: access to the Odaru viewpoint is sometimes restricted after storms or high water — if you are visiting right after heavy rain, check locally before counting on it.
The most-asked question about this trail deserves a straight answer: yes, for most people — with two honest exceptions.
The five questions people actually ask before walking the seven falls.
Yes, for most visitors. In roughly 90 minutes of easy downhill walking you pass seven distinct waterfalls flowing over rare columnar basalt, cross a suspension bridge, and finish at an onsen. Skip it only if stairs are a problem (there are many) or if you are expecting giant falls: the tallest, Odaru, is 30m. For the wider context, see how Kawazu compares with other waterfalls near Tokyo.
About 60 to 90 minutes one way at a relaxed pace, covering roughly 1.5km. Budget the full 90 minutes if you stop for photos at each fall. Walking downhill from the Nanadaru Iriguchi bus stop is the easiest direction — see the transport guide for the bus details.
Seven, in trail order from the top: Kamadaru (22m), Ebidaru (5m), Hebidaru (3m), Shokeidaru (10m), Kanidaru (2m), Deaidaru (2m), and Odaru (30m), the largest, at the Amagiso Onsen. Every one is pinned at its real location on the trail map.
Morning. The light at Shokeidaru, the main photo spot, is best between 8:00 and 10:00 AM, and the trail is quietest before the mid-day tour groups arrive. The stone steps also get slicker as spray builds through the day. Seasonal light and timing notes are in the seasons guide.
Not end to end. Stairs and uneven stone steps appear throughout, so strollers and wheelchairs cannot complete the full route. Some individual viewpoints are easier: Shokeidaru has an accessible path and Kamadaru is viewed from a deck. Reaching Odaru involves steep stairs. The trail map shows both entrances if you plan a partial visit.